The Pancreas in 3D
A dual gland — its exocrine part secretes digestive enzymes, and its endocrine islets secrete insulin and glucagon. Rotate it, zoom in, and tap each labelled part to learn its structure and function the NCERT way.
Parts of the pancreas
Head
Broad end of the pancreas, cradled within the C-curve of the duodenum.
Body
Central portion that crosses the vertebral column.
Tail
Narrow end reaching towards the spleen; rich in Islets of Langerhans.
Pancreatic duct
Carries pancreatic juice to the duodenum, usually with the bile duct.
Pancreas — the NCERT essentials
NCERT — Digestion and Chemical Coordination. The pancreas is a heterocrine (mixed) gland. Its exocrine part (acini) secretes pancreatic juice containing trypsinogen, amylase and lipase, which is carried to the duodenum to digest proteins, carbohydrates and fats.
Its endocrine part, the Islets of Langerhans, contains β-cells that secrete insulin and α-cells that secrete glucagon. Insulin lowers blood glucose (by promoting its uptake and conversion to glycogen), while glucagon raises it.
The balance of insulin and glucagon keeps blood glucose steady. A lack of insulin causes diabetes mellitus.
Did you know? It is both an exocrine gland (enzymes) and an endocrine gland (hormones) — a heterocrine gland.
How the pancreas works — step by step
- 1
After a meal, blood glucose rises.
- 2
β-cells of the Islets of Langerhans release insulin.
- 3
Insulin makes cells take up glucose and the liver store it as glycogen, so blood sugar falls.
- 4
When blood sugar drops, α-cells release glucagon, which breaks glycogen back into glucose — restoring balance.
FAQ
Pancreas — frequently asked questions
What is the function of the pancreas?▾
Digestive enzymes + blood-sugar hormones. Islets of Langerhans: β-cells secrete insulin, α-cells secrete glucagon.
What are the main parts of the pancreas?▾
Key labelled parts include Head, Body, Tail, Pancreatic duct. In the 3D model you can tap each one to read what it does.
Which NCERT chapter covers the pancreas for NEET?▾
NCERT — Digestion and Chemical Coordination. The pancreas is a heterocrine (mixed) gland. Its exocrine part (acini) secretes pancreatic juice containing trypsinogen, amylase and lipase, which is carried to the duodenum to digest proteins, carbohydrates and fats.
Is there an interactive 3D pancreas model for NEET students?▾
Yes. PracticeNEET's 3D Anatomy Studio lets you rotate and zoom a real pancreas model and tap labelled dots to learn each part — free, in your browser, no sign-in needed to explore.
See the pancreas from every angle.
Open the interactive 3D model — rotate, zoom, and tap each labelled part.
Open the 3D Anatomy Studio