The pancreas produces bicarbonate to neutralize the acidic chyme and digestive enzymes that require a neutral pH to be active. These pass through the pancreatic duct to enter the duodenum. The pancreatic duct joins common bile duct which carries bile and pancreatic secretions. The sphincter of Oddi controls release of these secretions into the duodenum.
Acinar cells of the pancreas secrete digestive enzymes (the exocrine pancreas). Cells lining the ducts secrete bicarbonate. this bicarbonate neutralizes the acidic chyme coming from the stomach. The pH optimum of pancreatic enzymes is slightly basic. These enzymes include proteases, lipases, and amylases. Pancreatic proteases (trypsin, chymotrypsin, carboxypeptidase) continue protein digestion Pancreatic lipase breaks down triglycerides; it requires bile salts from the liver and colipase, which is secreted by the pancreas. Pancreatic amylase breaks down glycogen and continues starch digestion to disaccharides.
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