The pancreas is crucial in many organisms for properly converting food into usable fuel to be used by cells. It acts as part of the digestive system for a majority of its function as it is connected to the stomach and provides digestive enzymes to the partly digested food brought in by the stomach. The pancreas also serves as an endocrine component, by creating hormones to regulate blood sugar. Insulin, a hormone created by the pancreas (beta cells), acts to lower blood sugar, which is very important as it allows cells in the body to use sugar without inducing hyperglycaemia.

Pancreas Function References