The Pancreas?
Located in the upper abdomen behind the stomach and the intestines, the pancreas is divided up into 3 sections: the head, body and tail.
In the centre of the pancreas runs a duct which delivers digestive enzymes into the small bowel. This pancreatic duct joins the bile duct to open into the small intestines. There are smaller groups of cells arranged like small islands scattered throughout the pancreas called the “Islets of Langerhans”.
The pancreas has two major functions:
- exocrine: production of enzymes for digestion of food
- endocrine: production of hormones, including some that regulate blood sugar
Contact Us
Dr Harald Puhalla is a General Surgeon with a private practice at Gold Coast Private Hospital.
For more information about the surgical procedures offered by Dr Puhalla, please contact us to arrange a consultation or phone (07) 5667 9766.