Dictionary Home » Dictionary Definitions » pancreas

pancreas

The pancreas is a long gland located behind the stomach that secretes digestive juices into the small intestine. (noun)

An example of a pancreas is the organ that produces insulin to regulate glucose in the body.

See pancreas in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

a large, elongated gland situated behind the stomach and secreting a digestive juice (pancreatic juice) into the small intestine: groups of differentiated cells (islets of Langerhans) in the gland produce the hormone insulin: the pancreas of animals, used as food, is usually called sweetbread

Related Forms:

pancreatic adjective

See pancreas in American Heritage Dictionary 4

(păngˈkrē-əs, pănˈ-)

noun

A long, irregularly shaped gland in vertebrates, lying behind the stomach, that secretes pancreatic juice into the duodenum and insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin into the bloodstream.

Related Forms: