The central section of the pancreas is called the neck or body. This is where the stomach empties partially digested food into the intestine, and the pancreas releases digestive enzymes into these contents.
The head of the pancreas is located at the juncture where the stomach meets the first part of the small intestine. The wide part, called the head of the pancreas, is positioned toward the center of the abdomen. It is spongy, about six to ten inches long, and is shaped like a flat pear or a fish extended horizontally across the abdomen. It is surrounded by other organs including the small intestine, liver, and spleen. The pancreas is located behind the stomach in the upper left abdomen. The pancreas has two main functions: an exocrine function that helps in digestion and an endocrine function that regulates blood sugar.
It plays an essential role in converting the food we eat into fuel for the body's cells. The pancreas is an organ located in the abdomen. Location of the Pancreas | Functions of the Pancreas | Diseases of the Pancreas | Next Steps