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pancreas definition

pan·creas (pan′krē əs, paŋ′-)

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

Etymology: ModL < Gr pankreas < pan, all (see pan-) + kreas, flesh (see crude)

Related Forms:

  • pancreatic pan′·cre·at′·ic (-at′ik) adjective

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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