pancreas

American  

[pan-kree-uhs, pang-] / ˈpæn kri əs, ˈpæŋ- /

noun

Anatomy, Zoology.

1. a gland, situated near the stomach, that secretes a digestive fluid into the intestine through one or more ducts and also secretes the hormone insulin.

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pancreas British  

/ ˈpæŋkrɪəs, ˌpæŋkrɪˈætɪk /

noun

1. a large elongated glandular organ, situated behind the stomach, that secretes insulin and pancreatic juice

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pancreas Scientific  

/ păng′krē-əs /

1. A long, irregularly shaped gland in vertebrate animals that is located behind the stomach and is part of the digestive system. It secretes hormones (insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin) into the bloodstream and digestive enzymes into the small intestine or gut. The pancreas also secretes sodium bicarbonate, which protects the lining of the intestine by neutralizing acids from the stomach.

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pancreas Cultural  

1. A gland behind the stomach that functions in both the endocrine system and the digestive system. Its endocrine function involves the secretion into the bloodstream of insulin, which regulates the level of sugars in the blood. As part of the digestive system, the pancreas secretes into the small intestine a fluid containing enzymes that is used in the digestion of all foods.

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Other Word Forms

• pancreatic adjective

Etymology

Origin of pancreas

First recorded in 1570–80; from New Latin, from Greek pánkreas “sweetbread”; pan- + kréas “flesh, meat”

Example Sentences

GLP-1 receptors are expressed not just in the pancreas and stomach, but throughout the vagus nerve, the brain stem, and the hypothalamus.

From Slate • Mar. 22, 2026

Researchers found that a protein called periostin, along with stellate cells in the pancreas, plays a crucial role in helping cancer cells invade nearby nerves.

From Science Daily • Jan. 30, 2026

The pancreas is a small organ, located behind the stomach, that helps with digestion.

From BBC • Jan. 29, 2026

Individuals in this group carried high levels of fat across most areas of the body, except for the liver and pancreas.

From Science Daily • Jan. 28, 2026

Something in his pancreas, the other one said.

From "The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother" by James McBride