Digestive (exocrine) functions

• The pancreas produces several hydrolytic enzymes to aid in digestion and a alkaline solution that is rich in bicarbonate. The bicarbonate acts as a buffer offsetting the acidity of the stomach. The pancreatic enzymes include protease's (protein-digesting enzymes) (Campbell ET AL 2005) endopeptidase pro enzymes include trypsin, chymotrypsin, elastase, collagenase, exopeptidase, and carboxypeptidase A and B (Hill ET AL 2008). These protease's are secreted into the duodenum in the inactive form and activated once they are safely located in the extracellular space within the duodenum (Campbell ET AL 2005). In addition the pancreas also secretes amylase (starch or glycogen digestion) and lipase's (lipid digestion) into the midgut (Hill ET AL 2008).