Accessory+Organs

=** Accessory Organs **= Digestive organs such as stomach and small intestine form a conduit through which food is moved and processed in the body. Associated with the operation of these organs are the accessory organs.These organs contribute important lubricants, enzymes, and chemicals that are required for the operation of the digestive organs. There are three accessory organs namely:

 1. Liver 2. Gall Bladder 3. Pancreas

= Liver = After skin, liver is the largest organ of the human body.The liver consisits of two primary lobes, called the left and the right lobes. The right lobe is larger than the left. The two lobes are separated by a ligament called the falciform ligament.The falciform ligament not only defines the two major lobes, but together with the other minor ligaments helps suspend the liver from the diaphragm. Each lobe of liver consists of self-sufficient subunits called lobules. Within each lobule are liver cells called hepatocytes and phagocytic cells called Kupffer's cells. The purpose of the Kupffer's cells is to engulf worn-out blood cells and invading pathogens such as bacteria and viruses, arriving from the digestive tract.The hepatocytes continually produce bile and secrete it into the common hepatic duct.The common hepatic duct carries bile to the gall bladder, where it becomes the common bile duct.The common bile duct connects with the duodenum of the small intestine through a small valve called the sphincter of Oddi. Click on the videos below to learn more about the liver: [] []

= Gall bladder = Bladder It is a small sac like organ located just under the liver.It is connected to the duodenum of the small intestine by the common bile duct.It primarily serves as a storage location for the secretions of liver.It does not produce any chemicals necessary for digestion.Its sole purpose is to store bikle between meals.In the case of injury or disease, the gall bladder may be removed surgically. When this happens, the bile of the liver proceeds directly into the small intestine and is not stored for later use.

= Pancreas = The pancreas is an irregular-shaped gland that is located just below the stomach and adjacent to the duodenum of the small intestine.It is divided into three major sections namely //**head**// which is the region closest to the duodenum, middle //**body**//, and terminal //**tail**//.The head is connected to the digestive tract by two ducts : the //**hepatopancreatic duct**// formed by the linking of the bile duct and pancreatic duct and the //**duct of Santorini**// that directly connects the pancreas to the duodenum.The pancreas actually represents two separate organs, both of which contribute to digestion. A portion of the pancreas is an exocrine gland, meaning that it secretes compounds into a cavity. The second major area of the pancreas is the endocrine tissue which secretes chemicals into the bloodstream.In general, the exocrine functions of the pancreas can be described as those directly involved with the processing of nutrients in the duodenum, while the endocrine is best described as those functions that involve hormones and the regulation of glucose homeostasis in the body. The predominant exocrine part consists of grape-like clusters of secretory cells that form sacs known as **//acini//**, which connect to ducts that eventually empty into duodenum. The smaller part of the gland consists of isolated islands of endocrine tissue known as **//islets of Langerhans//** which are dispersed throughout the pancreas.Two types of cells make up the endocrine portions of the pancreas namely duct cells that secrete aqueous alkaline solution which is primarily sodium bicarbonate that serves to neutralize hydrochloric acid coming through the pyloric sphincter along with the chyme. Deeper within the pancreas are groups of cells called acinar cells.These cells are responsible for generating the enzymatic secretions of the pancreas such as proteolytic enzymes(proteins), pancreatic lipase(lipids), and pancreatic amylase(carbohydrates). To learn more about the pancreas click the links below: [] []

References: The Digestive System by Michael Windelspecht Biology by Matthew Distefano