Clinical Pathology of Pancreatic Disorders

The pancreas is about the size and shape of the hand; the tail points to the spleen, and the head is nestled in a loop of the duodenum. Loss of the exocrine (digestive) func­ tions commonly leads to severe gastrointestinal disturbances, malabsorption, a cata­ bolic state, and weight loss in the face of an adequate diet. Loss of endocrine pancreatic function leads to a large spectrum of disorders associated with the loss of hormone secretions; the most common and most severe is diabetes mellitus.