Pancreatic Exocrine Secretions Are Indispensable for the Digestion of the Complex Nutrients: Proteins, Starches, and Triglycerides

The pancreas is composed of two functionally separate types of glandular tissue. A small but important portion of the pancreatic tissue is arranged into discrete islets within the parenchyma of the gland. These cells arc collectively called the endocrine pancreas because they secrete hormones into the bloodstream; the endocrine pancreas is discussed in Chapter 34. The great majority of the pancreatic tissue is involved with the elaboration of digestive secretions. This portion is known as the exocrine pancreas because its secretions are delivered into the intestinal lumen; the exocrine pancreas is the subject of this section.