Functions:
The pancreas is one of the most important organs in the human body and it has a wide variety of functions. The pancreas has digestive and hormonal functions. The pancreas adds its own digestive juices and enzymes by the exocrine glands which help in digestion, help to breakdown carbohydrates, fats, proteins, and acids. These enzymes are inactive when they are in the pancreatic duct and in the bile duct, when they enter the small intestine they get activated. The hormones secreted by the endocrine gland in the pancreas are insulin and glucagon which regulate the level of glucose in the blood and somatostatin which prevents the release of the other two hormones.
Diseases:
The most common condition which affects the pancreas is diabetes type1, diabetes type 2, pancreatitis which is the inflammatory condition of the pancreas, pancreatic pseudocyst, enlarged pancreas, pancreatic cancer, etc. These are the cases where the pancreas gets affected.
Interesting Facts:
You know that your pancreas can be transplanted. Your pancreas has small circles from outside which look like grapes.