Physiology 3120 Lecture Notes - Lecture 14: Bilirubin, Mononuclear Phagocyte System, Micelle

• School: Western University
• Department: Physiology
• Course: Physiology 3120
• Professor: Tom Stavraky

Document Summary

Pancreas is accessory organ that produces a lot of enzymes for nutrient digestion. Without exocrine pancreas, severe malnutrition and death by starvation due to insufficient nutrient absorption! even though all those other organs still function. Acinar cells form circular structure around central duct primary secretion. Make enzymes that get secreted into small duct that join bigger ducts until reach pancreas. Duct cells lining ducts modify acinar secretions secondary secretion. Modifications are adding more/less bicarb or adding more/less water. Pancreas change type of enzymes secreted based on diet. Zymogens go through pancreatic duct to enter duodenum. Trypsinogen gets cleaved into trypsin by enterokinase which is brush border enzyme found only in small intestine. Trypsin then acts as enzyme that cleaves all other zymogens ie: chymotrypsinogen, procarboxypeptidase, proelastase (not shown) Important that zymogens are not prematurely cleaved while still in pancreas as that would damage pancreas. Pancreatitis is inappropriate activation of zymogens within pancreas instead of small intestine.