pancreas
n. countablen. a large organ behind your stomach that helps you digest food. It also makes insulin, which controls the amount of sugar in your blood.
n. a large glandular organ situated behind the stomach that secretes digestive enzymes into the duodenum and releases hormones, such as insulin, into the bloodstream.
The pancreas produces insulin to regulate blood sugar.
Doctors monitored his pancreas closely after he complained of severe abdominal pain and digestive issues.
As both an endocrine and exocrine gland, the pancreas plays a dual role in the human body by regulating glucose levels and facilitating the breakdown of proteins and fats.
Existing in English since the sixteenth century: from Latin pancreas, from Ancient Greek πάγκρεας (pánkreas), from πᾶν (pân, “all”) (equivalent to English pan-) + κρέας (kréas, “flesh”).
Usually used in the singular when referring to the specific organ in an individual.