pancreas

Everyday

The pancreas is an organ in the belly, behind the stomach, that makes digestive juices and the hormone insulin, which controls the amount of sugar in the blood. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons on the body and digestion, the pancreas sends juices into the small intestine to break down food. In health lessons it is linked with diabetes: in type 1 diabetes the pancreas does not make enough insulin, so people take insulin by injection or pump. Phrases: «the pancreas makes insulin».

Examples

• The pancreas sits behind the stomach. tree →
• The pancreas makes insulin to control blood sugar. tree →
• My friend has type 1 diabetes because her pancreas doesn't make insulin. tree →
• Juices from the pancreas help digest fat. tree →
• The pancreas is about as long as a banana. tree →
• In science we labelled the pancreas on a body diagram. tree →

Note

Said «PAN-kree-us». Usually «the pancreas» (everyone has one). Adjective «pancreatic». Not the same as the liver or the spleen, which are nearby organs.