Final answer:
The endocrine cells of the pancreas, specifically pancreatic islets, produce hormones like insulin and glucagon, while acinar cells, the exocrine glands of the pancreas, produce pancreatic juice aiding in digestion.
Step-by-step explanation:
Endocrine cells of the pancreas produce and secrete hormones such as insulin and glucagon, and exocrine glands produce pancreatic juice to assist with digestive activities.
Specifically, the clusters of endocrine cells found in the pancreas are called pancreatic islets or the islets of Langerhans. Within these islets, alpha cells secrete glucagon, which raises blood glucose levels by promoting glycogen breakdown in the liver.
Conversely, beta cells produce insulin, which lowers blood glucose levels by facilitating the uptake of glucose into cells and increasing glycogen synthesis in liver and muscles.
The pancreatic juice is composed of digestive enzymes, and it is produced by exocrine cells known as acinar cells. These enzymes play a critical role in the chemical digestion of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids in the food we consume.
The pancreas releases pancreatic juice into the duodenum via pancreatic ducts when food in the stomach and duodenum triggers the secretion process.