Pancreatitis

Terms You Should Know

• Bile : A secretion of the liver that helps in digestion of fats. 
  Biliary System : The ducts and tubes that collect and drain bile. 
  Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography ( ECRP) : A procedure in which an endoscope used to examine the pancreatic duct, common bile duct, and/or sphincter of Oddi. 
  Inflammation A response to tissue injury that causes redness, swelling, and sometimes pain. 
  Jaundice : The skin and/or white of the eyes turns yellow due to increase amount of bilirubin in blood. 
  Pancreas: A gland behind the stomach that produces insulin to metabolise sugar and secrete enzymes to break down fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. 
  Pancreatic duct : Drains pancreatic enzymes into the small intestine. 

The pancreas is a large gland behind the stomach and close to the duodenum - the upper part of the small intestine. It is about six to eight inches long in an adult. The pancreas contain thin tubes that come together like the veins of a leaf. These tubes join to form a single opening into the duodenum. 

The pancreas play an important roles in digestion and metabolism. It secrets digestive enzymes into the small intestine through a tube called the pancreatic duct. These enzymes help digest fats, proteins, and carbohydrates in food. The pancreas also release the hormones insulin and glucagons into the bloodstream. These hormones help in maintaining proper blood sugar levels in the body. 

Normally, digestive enzymes do not become active until they reach the small intestine, where they begin digesting food. But if these enzymes become active inside the pancreas, they start 'digesting' the pancreas themselves. A pancreas enzyme called trypsin acts on the pancreatic tissue and causes tissue damage and bleeding. The pancreatic tissue and the blood vessels inside the pancreas get inflamed. This is known as acute pancretitis. It lasts for a few days. 

The pancreas may eventually stop producing the enzymes that are necessary for the body to digest and absorb nutrients. In this condition fats and protein are not digested and absorbed properly. Late on the pancreas may even loss their ability to make insulin leading to the development of diabetes mellitus. This is known as chronic pancreatitis. This persists for years.