KNOW YOUR BODY Pancreas

The pancreas is about six inches long and sits in the curve between the lower end of the stomach and the start of the small intestine, so it’s on the right side of your abdomen. A small tube called the pancreatic duct leads from it into the first part of the small intestine, the duodenum, along which digestive juices flow.

The pancreas is really a gland, or rather two glands in one. Firstly, it produces digestive juices which pass through the pancreatic duct into the duodenum. These contain enzymes that break down protein, fats and carbohydrates in your food.

Most importantly it also secretes insulin (into the blood) which controls your blood sugar level. As you can see, both these functions of the pancreas are important and the gland itself is vital to your survival.