What are the functions of a rats small intestine, pancreas and spleen?
The small intestine is a slender coiled tube that receives partially digested food from the stomach (via the pyloric sphincter). It consists of three sections: duodenum, ileum, and jejunum. The spleen is about the same color as the liver and is attached to the greater curvature of the stomach. It is associated with the circulatory system and functions in the destruction of blood cells and blood storage. The pancreas is a brownish, flattened gland found in the tissue between the stomach and small intestine. The pancreas produces digestive enzymes that are sent to the intestine via small ducts (the pancreatic duct). The pancreas also secretes insulin which is important in the regulation of glucose metabolism. The greater omentum is the membranous curtain of tissue that hangs from the stomach and contains lymph nodes, blood vessels, and fat.
