What does pancreas mean?
The pancreas is a glandular organ located behind the stomach with two major functions. It releases digestive enzymes into the small intestine, where they help break down food, and it produces hormones including insulin and glucagon that help regulate blood sugar. The word is used chiefly in medicine, anatomy, nutrition, and health reporting. In phrases such as pancreas function, pancreatic cancer, and pancreas transplant, it refers either to the organ as a whole or to its condition and treatment. Although the pancreas is often described simply as an organ, its combined digestive and hormonal roles make it especially important. Problems affecting it can range from inflammation in pancreatitis to diabetes, which involves impaired insulin production or use. Its anatomical name also reflects its position and historical anatomical description.
nounThe pancreas is a glandular organ situated behind the stomach that produces digestive enzymes and the hormones insulin and glucagon, which help regulate blood glucose.
- An anatomical organ behind the stomach that secretes digestive enzymes and regulatory hormones.
"The doctor explained that inflammation of the pancreas can cause severe abdominal pain."
"The pancreas releases insulin to help the body regulate blood glucose."
"A healthy diet can support the function of the pancreas."
Both forms are standard. “Pancreata” is especially common in formal anatomical usage, while “pancreases” is the usual general plural.
"The scan examined both the liver and the pancreases."
The pancreas has a dual role: it helps digest food and helps regulate the body's blood sugar.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does pancreas come from?
The word pancreas comes from Greek, where pan- means “all” and kreas means “flesh,” giving the literal sense “all-flesh.” The term was adopted into Latin as pancreas and later into English as a technical anatomical name. Its related medical forms, including pancreatic and pancreatitis, preserve the same Greek root through the internationally used combining form pancreat-.
Related word forms
How pancreas is actually used
Primarily a medical and anatomical term. The plural forms are pancreases and pancreata; pancreata is common in formal anatomy, while pancreases is the usual general plural.
Easily confused with pancreas
The pancreas is the organ itself, whereas pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas.