Final answer:
The pancreas serves as both an exocrine organ, secreting digestive enzymes and bicarbonate into the duodenum for digestion, and an endocrine organ, producing insulin and glucagon to regulate blood glucose levels.
Step-by-step explanation:
The pancreas is an accessory organ that plays a crucial role in the digestive system. It has both exocrine and endocrine functions. The exocrine function is performed by acinar cells, which secrete digestive enzymes into the duodenum through the pancreatic duct to aid in digesting carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. Among these enzymes are pancreatic amylase, pancreatic lipase, and pancreatic nuclease. The pancreas also secretes bicarbonate, which neutralizes the acidic chyme coming from the stomach.
In terms of its endocrine function, the pancreas contains specialized clusters of cells known as pancreatic islets or islets of Langerhans. These cells produce important hormones like insulin and glucagon, which are essential in regulating blood glucose levels. These hormones enter the bloodstream and affect the metabolism of glucose throughout the body.