THE PANCHEAS. 151 



by the union of the hepatic and cystic ducts, opens into 

 the duodenum. 



The Functions of the Liver. The size of the liver is 

 related to the fact that the organ plays a double function; 

 on the one hand it is a digestive gland secreting bile; on the 

 other, its cells serve to store up, in the form of a kind of 

 animal starch, called glycogen, excess of starchy or sugary 

 food absorbed from the intestine during the digestion of a 

 meal, and then to gradually dole this out to the blood for 

 general use by the organs of the body until the next meal 

 is eaten. 



The Pancreas or Sweetbread* is a compound racemose 

 gland. It is an elongated soft organ of a pinkish-yellow 

 color, lying along the lower border of the stomach. Its 

 right end is embraced by the duodenum which there 

 makes a curve to the left. A duct traverses it and joins 

 the common bile-duct close to its intestinal opening. The 

 pancreas secretes a watery-looking liquid, much like saliva 

 in appearance, which is of great importance in digestion. 



With what fact is the large size of the liver connected? What are 

 its functions? 



To what group of glands does the pancreas belong? Describe its 

 form and color. Where is it placed? What does its duct unite with ? 

 What does its secretion look like? Is it of much value? 



* Butchers sell two kinds of sweetbread, known as the belly sweetbread and 

 the neck or heart sweetbread. The former is the pancreas; the latter is the 

 thymus, an organ of doubtful function, found only in young animals, and lying 

 at the bottom of the neck and upper part of the chest in front of the windpipe. 



