pancreas
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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[edit] English
[edit] Etymology
Existing in English since the sixteenth century: from Latin pancreas, from Ancient Greek πάγκρεας (pankreas), from πᾶν (pan, “all”) (equivalent to English pan-) + κρέας (kreas, “flesh”).[1]
[edit] Pronunciation
[edit] Noun
pancreas (plural pancreases or pancreata)
- (anatomy) A gland near the stomach which secretes a fluid into the duodenum to help with food digestion. The fluid contains protease, carbohydrase and lipase, which breaks down larger molecules into smaller pieces. The pancreas also produces the hormones insulin and glucagon which regulate blood sugar. These hormones are released into the cardiovascular system. [2]
[edit] Synonyms
[edit] Derived terms
Derived terms
[edit] See also
[edit] Translations
gland near the stomach
[edit] References
- ^ The Concise Oxford English Dictionary, 11th ed.
- ^ Hviveldyr by Jørgensen, Jørgen M. (Danish author), ISBN 978-87-02-07684-4
[edit] Italian
[edit] Noun
pancreas m. inv.
- pancreas
