PCOL838 - DISORDERS OF THE
PANCREAS EXAM 2025 QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
What are the main exocrine functions of the pancreas? - ANS -to release digestive enzymes
-to help with the digestion of food
What are the two exocrine cell types of the pancreas? - ANS -acinar cells
-ductal cells
What is the function of acinar cells? - ANS -to secrete digestive enzymes into the pancreas
What is the function of the ductal cells? - ANS -to secrete pancreatic juice that contains
sodium bicarbonate, which neutralizes food
1 @COPYRIGHT THESTAR 2025/2026
,What are the hormonal controls of the pancreas for exocrine function? - ANS -presence of
acid/food in duodenum stimulates release of the peptide hormone, secretin
-secretin then triggers release of pancreatic juice from ductal cells
-presence of fats in duodenum stimulates release of cholecytokinin (CCK)
-CCK then triggers release of digestive enzymes from acinar cells
What are the neural controls of the pancreas for exocrine function? - ANS -stimulation, such
as the smell of delicious food, triggers the parasympathetic pathways (vagal stimulation -
acetylcholine) in the pancreas to release pancreatic enzymes
What is the composition of pancreatic juice? - ANS Water solution of enzymes and
electrolytes (primarily HCO3-; Cl-, Na+, K+; slightly alkaline)
What volume of pancreatic juice is created? - ANS 1.5L
What are the active pancreatic enzymes? - ANS lipase, amylase, deoxyribonuclease,
ribonuclease
2 @COPYRIGHT THESTAR 2025/2026
, What activates trypsinogen and why? - ANS -trypsinogen is activated by enterokinase and
trypsin
-
What are examples of zymogens and their active forms? - ANS -trypsinogen: trypsin
-chymotrypsinogen: chymotrypsin
-proelastase: elastase
-kallikreinogen: kallikrein
-pro-carboxypeptidase: carboxypeptidase
-prophospholipase: phospholipase
-procolipase: colipase
How does inflammation in the pancreas occur? - ANS -due to damage of the exocrine
pancreatic cells
What is the process that leads to acute pancreatitis? - ANS -acinar cells causes protease
activation (along with excess calcium), leading the release of cytokines, leakage of pancreatic
enzymes, and therefore pancreatitis
3 @COPYRIGHT THESTAR 2025/2026
PANCREAS EXAM 2025 QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
What are the main exocrine functions of the pancreas? - ANS -to release digestive enzymes
-to help with the digestion of food
What are the two exocrine cell types of the pancreas? - ANS -acinar cells
-ductal cells
What is the function of acinar cells? - ANS -to secrete digestive enzymes into the pancreas
What is the function of the ductal cells? - ANS -to secrete pancreatic juice that contains
sodium bicarbonate, which neutralizes food
1 @COPYRIGHT THESTAR 2025/2026
,What are the hormonal controls of the pancreas for exocrine function? - ANS -presence of
acid/food in duodenum stimulates release of the peptide hormone, secretin
-secretin then triggers release of pancreatic juice from ductal cells
-presence of fats in duodenum stimulates release of cholecytokinin (CCK)
-CCK then triggers release of digestive enzymes from acinar cells
What are the neural controls of the pancreas for exocrine function? - ANS -stimulation, such
as the smell of delicious food, triggers the parasympathetic pathways (vagal stimulation -
acetylcholine) in the pancreas to release pancreatic enzymes
What is the composition of pancreatic juice? - ANS Water solution of enzymes and
electrolytes (primarily HCO3-; Cl-, Na+, K+; slightly alkaline)
What volume of pancreatic juice is created? - ANS 1.5L
What are the active pancreatic enzymes? - ANS lipase, amylase, deoxyribonuclease,
ribonuclease
2 @COPYRIGHT THESTAR 2025/2026
, What activates trypsinogen and why? - ANS -trypsinogen is activated by enterokinase and
trypsin
-
What are examples of zymogens and their active forms? - ANS -trypsinogen: trypsin
-chymotrypsinogen: chymotrypsin
-proelastase: elastase
-kallikreinogen: kallikrein
-pro-carboxypeptidase: carboxypeptidase
-prophospholipase: phospholipase
-procolipase: colipase
How does inflammation in the pancreas occur? - ANS -due to damage of the exocrine
pancreatic cells
What is the process that leads to acute pancreatitis? - ANS -acinar cells causes protease
activation (along with excess calcium), leading the release of cytokines, leakage of pancreatic
enzymes, and therefore pancreatitis
3 @COPYRIGHT THESTAR 2025/2026
