12 Exocrine Pancreas

Pancreatic Fluid

• left side: same as plasma

• slow flow rate: all bicarb reabsorbed

• quick flow rate: not enough time to absorb bicarb

Pancreatic Enzymes

• vasovagal reflex

• signal from duodenum to pancreas via vagus nerve

• lipase: fat

Amylase

• active form secreted

• breaks down into smaller saccharides

• only monosaccharides absorbed

• at brush border: rate limiting step

Lipase

Protein

• auto activation of trypsin starts acute pancreatitis