The pancreas sits in a fold of the duodenum and extends left-ward nearly to the spleen. Pancreatic islets are groups of cells in the pancreas that secrete hormones and digestive enzymes. The endocrine pancreas secretes insulin and glucagon which act together to maintain normal blood glucose levels. High blood sugar promotes insulin release which stimulates glucose uptake and storage. Beta cells secrete insulin which promotes glucose uptake and storage in cells and decreases blood glucose. Insulin returns elevated blood glucose to normal levels.
Alpha cells secrete glucagon which keeps blood glucose levels from falling too far, by releasing glucose from the liver. Glucagon keeps glucose from falling too low during fasting. The hormone stimulates release of glucose from the liver, thereby increasing blood glucose.
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