Question

Discuss the effects on digestion if the pancreatic ducts are blocked and pancreatic enzymes cannot be delivered to the small intestines. Mention specific enzymes.

Answer 1

Exocrine pancreas secretes enzymes for various nutrients. Carbohydrates- pancreatic amylase, lipids- pancreatic lipase, proteins- trypsinogen, procarboxypeptidases. These pancreatic secretions are responsible for digestion inside the small intestine. Maximum digestion of every nutrient occurs in the intestines. If the pancreatic duct is blocked, then secretions cannot reach the intestine and Digestion won't occur. Everything will be undigested and will cause bacterial fermentation inside the large intestine creating large amount of gases (flatus). The undigested lipids will provide bulkiness to the stools and steatorrhoea occurs. Carbohydrates will be fermented.

Moreover, when pancreatic duct is blocked, the pancreatic secretions will start causing the autodigestion of pancreatic tissue.