Final answer:
The pancreatic duct empties into the duodenum, the first section of the small intestine. This is the location where bile from the liver and gallbladder and Pancreatic juices mixes with the chyme to begin digestion.
Step-by-step explanation:
The pancreatic duct empties into the duodenum, which is the first part of the small intestine. The duodenum is a "C-shaped," fixed part of the small intestine, beginning at the pyloric sphincter and separated from the stomach by this valve. The chyme is mixed with an alkaline solution rich in bicarbonate along with pancreatic juices that play a crucial role in neutralizing the acidity of chyme from the stomach and activating digestive enzymes.
The duodenum receives digestive juices not only from the pancreas but also from the liver and gallbladder. The main pancreatic duct, also known as the duct of Wirsing, drains pancreatic juice into the duodenum at the major duodenal papilla. Bile, produced in the liver and stored in the gallbladder, also enters the duodenum through the bile duct, aiding in emulsifying lipids for digestion.
Given the process of chemical digestion and absorption that occurs in the duodenum, such as the breakdown of starches, disaccharides, proteins, fats, and absorption of fatty acids, it's clear that the duodenum is the correct answer to the question about where the pancreatic duct empties.