The pancreas is located behind the liver and stomach. In addition
to secreting digestive enzymes, the pancreas secretes the hormones
insulin and glucagon into the bloodstream. The release of insulin
into the blood lowers the level of blood glucose (sugar) by
allowing glucose to enter the body cells, where it is metabolized.
If blood glucose levels get too low, the pancreas secretes glucagon
to stimulate the release of glucose from the liver.
Review Date: 12/22/2010
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine,
Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
