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Why is pancreas called a heterocrine gland ?

Hetero means mixed. Pancreas is called a heterocrine gland as it performs more than one function ( =mixed function) i.e. it acts as both exocrine(secrets digestive enzymes) and endocrine(secretes hormones)  gland. Pancreas secretes two hormones glucagon and insulin as a part of its endocrine function and pancreatic juice as a part of its exocrine function.

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pancrease is a mixed gland (or heterocrine gland) as it has both endocrine or exocrine functions. as an endocrine gland it secretes the harmone insulininto the bloodstream whereas as an exocrine gland it secretes enzymes into digestive tract

NOTE:

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SORRY!.....continued......

NOTE:ONLY 1 PERCENT OF THE WEIGHT OF THE PENCREASE SERVE AS AN ENDOCRINE GLAND AND THE REMAINING 99 PERCENT OF THE GLAND HAS EXOCRINE FUNCTIONS

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pancreas give out the hormones insulin and glucagon which helps in maintaining the level of the glucose within the blood . thus , behaves as an endocrine gland. whereas it gives out pancreatic juices in the duodenum through a duct therefore it act as a exocrine gland here.

therefore together pancreas is called a hetrocrine gland.

HOPE THIS WOULD HELP YOU OUT

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