The pancreas is a gland located deep in the abdomen between the
stomach and the spine (backbone). The liver, intestine, and
other organs surround the pancreas. The pancreas is about 6
inches long and is shaped like a flat pear. The widest part of
the pancreas is the head, the middle section is the body, and
the thinnest part is the tail. The pancreas makes insulin and
other hormones. These hormones enter the bloodstream and travel
throughout the body. They help the body use or store the energy
that comes from food. For example, insulin helps control the
amount of sugar in the blood. The pancreas also makes pancreatic
juices. These juices contain enzymes that help digest food. The
pancreas releases the juices into a system of ducts leading to
the common bile duct. The common bile duct empties into the
duodenum, the first section of the small intestine.