Pancreatic juice facts for kids

Pancreatic juice is a special liquid made by your pancreas. The pancreas is an organ located deep inside your belly, behind your stomach. It's a very important part of your digestive system.

This juice is full of tiny helpers called enzymes. These enzymes are like tiny tools that break down the food you eat. Pancreatic juice also helps to make sure your food is ready to be used by your body.

What is Pancreatic Juice?

Pancreatic juice is a clear liquid. It's made by the pancreas and flows into your small intestine. This part of the small intestine is called the duodenum.

One special thing about pancreatic juice is that it's alkaline. This means it's the opposite of acidic. It has a lot of bicarbonate in it. Think of bicarbonate like baking soda.

Why is it Important?

When food leaves your stomach, it's very acidic. This acidic food mixture is called chyme. It's too acidic for your small intestine.

The bicarbonate in pancreatic juice helps to neutralize this strong stomach acid. It makes the chyme less acidic and more neutral. This is super important because the enzymes in your small intestine work best in a neutral environment. If the chyme stays too acidic, these enzymes can't do their job properly.

The enzymes in pancreatic juice break down the main parts of your food:

• Proteins: These are like the building blocks of your body.
• Fats: These give you energy.
• Carbohydrates: These are sugars and starches, also for energy.

Breaking down these foods helps your body absorb the nutrients. This means your body can take in all the good stuff from your food to grow and stay healthy.

How is Pancreatic Juice Made?

Your body has a clever way of knowing when to make pancreatic juice. It's mainly controlled by special messengers called hormones.

The Role of Hormones

When acidic chyme from your stomach enters the duodenum, it sends a signal. The walls of the duodenum then release a hormone called secretin.

Secretin travels through your blood to the pancreas. It tells the pancreas to start making and releasing a lot of pancreatic juice. This juice is rich in bicarbonate and enzymes.

There are also nerves that help control this process. They work together with the hormones to make sure the right amount of juice is released at the right time.

Where Does it Go?

Once the pancreatic juice is made, it flows from the pancreas into the duodenum. It enters through small openings called duodenal papillae. This is where it mixes with the acidic chyme and starts its important work of digestion.

See also

In Spanish: Jugo pancreático para niños