pancreas

noun

pan·​cre·​as ˈpaŋ-krē-əs How to pronounce pancreas (audio)
ˈpan-
: a large lobulated gland of vertebrates that secretes digestive enzymes and the hormones insulin and glucagon
pancreatic adjective

Examples of pancreas in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Located behind the stomach, the pancreas is a large gland that helps people digest food and regulate blood sugar. Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2024 Too much iron in your body can affect how well your pancreas functions, which can increase your risk of diabetes—a condition that occurs when your pancreas can't produce enough insulin to match your blood sugar levels. Sarah Jividen, Health, 12 Sep. 2024 The study researchers hope their regeneration technique could lead to a new diabetes treatment that might be more accessible compared with existing therapies such as human islet cell transplants or whole pancreas transplants. Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 29 July 2024 Related: Scientists are starting to uncover how neighborhood can affect the biology of cancer Type 2 diabetes occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, the hormone that manages blood sugar levels. Rohan Rajeev, STAT, 8 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for pancreas 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pancreas.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek pankreas sweetbread, from pan- + kreas flesh, meat — more at raw

First Known Use

1578, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pancreas was in 1578

Dictionary Entries Near pancreas

Cite this Entry

“Pancreas.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pancreas. Accessed 7 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

pancreas

noun
pan·​cre·​as ˈpaŋ-krē-əs How to pronounce pancreas (audio)
ˈpan-
: a large gland of vertebrates that lies near the stomach and produces digestive enzymes and insulin
pancreatic adjective

Medical Definition

pancreas

noun
pan·​cre·​as ˈpaŋ-krē-əs, ˈpan- How to pronounce pancreas (audio)
plural pancreases also pancreata pan-ˈkrē-ət-ə How to pronounce pancreas (audio)
: a large lobulated gland that in humans lies in front of the upper lumbar vertebrae and behind the stomach and is somewhat hammer-shaped and firmly attached anteriorly to the curve of the duodenum with which it communicates through one or more pancreatic ducts and that consists of (1) tubular acini secreting digestive enzymes which pass to the intestine and function in the breakdown of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates; (2) modified acinar cells that form islets of Langerhans between the tubules and secrete the hormones insulin and glucagon; and (3) a firm connective-tissue capsule that extends supportive strands into the organ

More from Merriam-Webster on pancreas

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