Part.03. Topic Shot 💉| Pancreas | Human Digestive System | Class 10 | NCERT

Part.03. Topic Shot 💉| Pancreas | Human Digestive System | Class 10 | NCERT



The pancreas is one of the most important glands of the human digestive system and is a highly searched topic by students preparing for Class 10 CBSE board exams. When we study digestion in Class 10 Science, the pancreas plays a vital role because it is both an exocrine gland and an endocrine gland. The pancreas is located in the abdominal cavity, just behind the stomach, and it helps in digestion by secreting pancreatic juice which contains powerful digestive enzymes. Class 10 students often search keywords like pancreas function in digestive system, pancreatic juice role in digestion, enzymes secreted by pancreas, location of pancreas, and importance of pancreas in Class 10 CBSE science exam. The pancreas is described as a leaf-shaped gland that is pinkish in color and is a mixed gland because it has both endocrine and exocrine functions. In the context of digestion, its exocrine function is more significant as it secretes pancreatic juice into the duodenum, the first part of the small intestine, through the pancreatic duct. Students preparing for NCERT Class 10 Science Chapter Life Processes must know that pancreatic juice contains three main enzymes – trypsin, lipase, and amylase. These enzymes help in breaking down complex food substances into simpler absorbable forms. Trypsin helps in the digestion of proteins by converting them into peptides and amino acids, lipase breaks down fats into fatty acids and glycerol, and pancreatic amylase breaks down starch into simple sugars like maltose and glucose. This makes the pancreas essential for complete digestion of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Class 10 students often come across questions like explain the role of pancreas in digestion, what are the enzymes secreted by pancreas, where is pancreas located, and why pancreas is called a mixed gland. These questions are important for Class 10 board exams, competitive exams like NTSE, and also entrance exams where basic biology is asked.

When students search online for digestive system notes, they look for simple and clear explanations that highlight the importance of pancreas in digestion. According to NCERT Class 10 Science, the pancreas is a soft lobulated gland that plays a dual role. The digestive role of pancreas is to secrete enzymes and bicarbonate ions. The bicarbonate ions in pancreatic juice help in neutralizing the acidic food that comes from the stomach into the small intestine. This creates an alkaline medium in the duodenum which is suitable for the action of intestinal and pancreatic enzymes. Without the pancreas, digestion cannot be completed because neither proteins, nor fats, nor carbohydrates can be fully broken down. Therefore, in Class 10 CBSE exam, a common question is what will happen if pancreas does not function properly. The answer is that incomplete digestion will occur, fats and proteins will not be properly digested, and absorption of nutrients will be affected. Students often prepare short notes like pancreas secretes trypsin, lipase, amylase, and bicarbonates, which act in small intestine to digest proteins, fats, and starch. For long answer questions, they write pancreas is a gland located behind the stomach that secretes pancreatic juice containing enzymes like trypsin, lipase, and amylase, and bicarbonates that neutralize acidic chyme and help in digestion.

The endocrine function of pancreas is also important though not directly related to digestion. The pancreas contains clusters of cells called Islets of Langerhans which secrete insulin and glucagon. Insulin regulates blood sugar levels by converting excess glucose into glycogen for storage, while glucagon increases blood sugar by breaking down stored glycogen. Students preparing for Class 10 must remember that while the digestive role of pancreas is due to exocrine secretion, the role in regulating blood sugar is due to endocrine secretion. Keywords often searched by Class 10 students include pancreas diagram, pancreas location in human body, pancreas function in CBSE Class 10 Science, enzymes secreted by pancreas, difference between endocrine and exocrine function of pancreas, and pancreas role in digestion and absorption. Many board exam questions are framed around these topics, so students are advised to focus on them.

Carbohydrates which were partially broken down by salivary amylase in mouth are finally acted upon by pancreatic amylase to form maltose and glucose. Thus pancreas is essential for the complete digestion of all food components. Class 10 CBSE question papers often include fill in the blanks like pancreatic enzyme which digests protein is __ (trypsin), enzyme which digests fat is __ (lipase), enzyme which digests starch is __ (amylase), and gland which secretes pancreatic juice is __ (pancreas).