Secretin facts for kids
Secretin is a special chemical messenger in your body called a peptide hormone. Think of it like a tiny signal that helps control how much water is in your body, keeping everything balanced. It's made in a part of your small intestine called the duodenum.
Scientists discovered in 2007 that secretin also helps your body manage water balance by talking to your brain (specifically the hypothalamus and pituitary gland) and your kidneys.
Secretin holds a special place in science history because it was the very first hormone ever found! This important discovery happened in 1902 at University College London. The word 'hormone' itself was created a few years later, in 1905.
Contents
What is Secretin?
Secretin is a small protein that acts as a messenger. It travels through your blood to tell other parts of your body what to do. Its main job is to help with digestion and keep your body's water levels just right.
Where is Secretin Made?
Secretin is made in special cells located in the lining of your duodenum. The duodenum is the first part of your small intestine, right after your stomach. These cells release secretin when food, especially acidic food, moves from your stomach into your small intestine.
How Secretin Helps Digestion
When secretin is released, it sends a message to your pancreas. The pancreas then releases a liquid rich in bicarbonate. This bicarbonate helps to neutralize the strong acid coming from your stomach, making it safer for your intestines. It also helps the enzymes in your small intestine work better to break down food.
Secretin and Water Balance
Beyond digestion, secretin plays a role in how your body handles water. It helps control how much water your kidneys keep or let go of. This process is super important for keeping your body hydrated and all your systems working correctly.
Secretin's Role in Osmoregulation
The process of keeping your body's water and salt levels balanced is called osmoregulation. Secretin helps with this by influencing parts of your brain and kidneys. It's like a tiny thermostat for your body's fluids.
The Discovery of Secretin
Secretin was discovered by two scientists, William Bayliss and Ernest Starling, in 1902. They were studying how the body controls digestion. Before their discovery, scientists thought that nerves were the only way the body sent messages.
A New Way to Send Messages
Bayliss and Starling found that even when they cut the nerves to the pancreas, the pancreas still responded to food in the intestine. This led them to realize there must be a chemical messenger traveling through the blood. They called this messenger "secretin." This discovery opened up a whole new field of science about hormones.
