The pancreas is an organ that is a part of both the digestive and endocrine systems of the body, by way of its exocrine and endocrine glands. Its role in the digestive system primarily includes maintenance of the gastric pH through secretion of bicarbonate ions, as well as the production and secretion of a number of digestive enzymes that break down proteins, lipids, and, to a lesser extent, carbohydrates. In addition to its digestive functions, the pancreas secretes two important hormones, insulin and glucagon, which are critical in the normal homeostatic regulation of glucose, lipid, and protein metabolism. The pancreas, by function, holds major significance in stem cell research today. Derangements in the secretion or activity of the pancreatic hormones result in diabetes mellitus, a ...