19
• During adulthood in men, this is predominantly responsible for sustaining masculinity, sexual ability, libido and controlling spermatogenesis. Little decrease in
testosterone amount with age occurs, but this decline is not as much as the
decreased estrogen levels in menopausal females [29].
Pancreas
Pancreas is an important viscera of digestive system as well as circulatory system
because it assists in maintaining our blood glucose levels. It is of pear shape having a
length of 6 inches, situated at mid and posterior to abdomen. This is attached to duodenum and is located behind stomach. Pancreas is considered to be a part of the digestive tract as it secretes enzymes responsible for digestion. These digestive enzymes
help to breakdown food in to essential entities that are absorbed via intestine and
ultimately used by the body. The secretion of these digestive enzymes into small intestine executes exocrine role of the pancreas, where particular entities delivered directly
to another organ. The pancreas is an endocrine as well as exocrine gland [28].
It also has a significant endocrine role. A small group of cells in the entire organ
called islet cells produce insulin and glucagon (hormones that are important to control glucose amount in blood). Insulin and glucagon are released directly into the
blood, thus affecting organs of entire body. Pancreas is the only viscera that forms
ample amount of glucagon and insulin. Insulin is responsible for lowering blood
glucose levels by permitting flow of glucose into the cells. Glucagon increases
blood glucose levels as a result of releasing glucose from its storage site into the
circulation. Insulin and glucagon have antagonistic effect on blood glucose level in
order to keep blood glucose levels stable. A normal functioning of pancreas is
responsible for good health by maintaining malnutrition and normal blood glucose
concentration. Hormones of pancreas are helpful in gastrointestinal tract in order to
breakdown the food particles to the simplest elements, otherwise the absorption of
nutrients cannot take place, e.g., macromolecules like carbohydrates must be catabolized into simplest glucose molecules, fat into fatty acids, and protein into simple
amino acid. Pancreatic enzymes are significant in all of these reactions. So, these
elements can be transported easily into the intestine where they are further transformed and taken away to different tissues of body as fuel sources as well as building materials. Likewise, without balance between insulin and glucagon action, the
body will not be able to maintain normal blood sugar levels [29].
Insulin
The pancreas consists of endocrine and exocrine cells. The islets of Langerhans
(groups of endocrine cells) release two types of hormones. Alpha cells release glucagon and beta cells secrete insulin. The amount of sugar in the blood depends on the
opposite effect of these two hormones. Insulin causes hypoglycemia. So, major
1 Physiology of Endocrine System and Related Metabolic Disorders
• During adulthood in men, this is predominantly responsible for sustaining masculinity, sexual ability, libido and controlling spermatogenesis. Little decrease in
testosterone amount with age occurs, but this decline is not as much as the
decreased estrogen levels in menopausal females [29].
Pancreas
Pancreas is an important viscera of digestive system as well as circulatory system
because it assists in maintaining our blood glucose levels. It is of pear shape having a
length of 6 inches, situated at mid and posterior to abdomen. This is attached to duodenum and is located behind stomach. Pancreas is considered to be a part of the digestive tract as it secretes enzymes responsible for digestion. These digestive enzymes
help to breakdown food in to essential entities that are absorbed via intestine and
ultimately used by the body. The secretion of these digestive enzymes into small intestine executes exocrine role of the pancreas, where particular entities delivered directly
to another organ. The pancreas is an endocrine as well as exocrine gland [28].
It also has a significant endocrine role. A small group of cells in the entire organ
called islet cells produce insulin and glucagon (hormones that are important to control glucose amount in blood). Insulin and glucagon are released directly into the
blood, thus affecting organs of entire body. Pancreas is the only viscera that forms
ample amount of glucagon and insulin. Insulin is responsible for lowering blood
glucose levels by permitting flow of glucose into the cells. Glucagon increases
blood glucose levels as a result of releasing glucose from its storage site into the
circulation. Insulin and glucagon have antagonistic effect on blood glucose level in
order to keep blood glucose levels stable. A normal functioning of pancreas is
responsible for good health by maintaining malnutrition and normal blood glucose
concentration. Hormones of pancreas are helpful in gastrointestinal tract in order to
breakdown the food particles to the simplest elements, otherwise the absorption of
nutrients cannot take place, e.g., macromolecules like carbohydrates must be catabolized into simplest glucose molecules, fat into fatty acids, and protein into simple
amino acid. Pancreatic enzymes are significant in all of these reactions. So, these
elements can be transported easily into the intestine where they are further transformed and taken away to different tissues of body as fuel sources as well as building materials. Likewise, without balance between insulin and glucagon action, the
body will not be able to maintain normal blood sugar levels [29].
Insulin
The pancreas consists of endocrine and exocrine cells. The islets of Langerhans
(groups of endocrine cells) release two types of hormones. Alpha cells release glucagon and beta cells secrete insulin. The amount of sugar in the blood depends on the
opposite effect of these two hormones. Insulin causes hypoglycemia. So, major
1 Physiology of Endocrine System and Related Metabolic Disorders