Definition of pancreas
: a large lobulated gland of vertebrates that secretes digestive enzymes and the hormones insulin and glucagon
What's Trending Now
More Trending Words
Recent Examples of pancreas from the Web
-
The complications include inflammation of the brain, pancreas, testicles and ovaries, as well as the covering of the brain and spinal column.
-
And her pancreas and lungs went to diabetes research.
-
The real question is why anything—genetic or otherwise—would make the body attack its own pancreas, and Roep has spent decades searching for an answer.
-
In January, the same research team presented promising findings in the journal Science on a blood test — called CancerSEEK — that’s capable of detecting malignancies of the liver, stomach, pancreas, esophagus, colon, lung and breast.
-
That this combination works in principle was first shown last year, when a group at the Salk Institute in California reported making mice with eyes, pancreases, hearts and other organs composed of rat cells.
-
High triglyceride levels are also linked to type 2 diabetes, inflammation of the pancreas, and other diseases.
-
The average wait time for transplant for a kidney is five years, a liver is 11 months, a pancreas is two years.
-
In the new study, the researchers first used pCLE on cancer patients who were undergoing surgery to remove the pancreas and the bile duct.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pancreas.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of pancreas
PANCREAS Defined for English Language Learners
Definition of pancreas for English Language Learners
-
: a large gland of the body that is near the stomach and that produces insulin and other substances that help the body digest food
PANCREAS Defined for Kids
Definition of pancreas for Students
: a large gland near the stomach that produces insulin and a fluid (
pancreatic juice
) with enzymes that aid digestion
Medical Dictionary
medical Definition of pancreas
plural pancreases
also pancreata
play
\pan-ˈkrē-ət-ə\
: 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
Illustration of pancreas
Learn More about pancreas
-
Spanish Central: Translation of pancreas Nglish: Translation of pancreas for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of pancreas for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pancreas
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up pancreas? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
