From this position, the pancreas is both protected from injury, and has access to the duodenum via the pancreatic duct. The pancreas has two main jobs - making digestive juices and hormones. The pancreas makes juices that help digest or break down the food you eat. The part of the pancreas that produces digestive juices is called the ex ocrine pancreas. The pancreas also makes important hormones.
Hormones are substances produced by the body that control or stimulate other cells into action.
The part of the pancreas that makes hormones is called the endo crine pancreas. Tumours of the endocrine pancreas are commonly called islet cell tumours . One of the most important hormones produced by the pancreas is insulin. When you have a deficiency in insulin, diabetes is the result. P ancreatic diseases are among the most common diseases affecting Canadians, and among the most deadly.