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Digestive Anatomy
Fish Pancreas
Pancreas
A digestive gland producing enzymes and insulin - often diffusely scattered along the intestine rather than a discrete organ.
Region: Trunk Universal in fish Unique to: all
📖 Overview
In many fish the pancreas is not a discrete organ but scattered exocrine and endocrine tissue distributed along the intestinal tract, often embedded within the liver (hepatopancreas). It secretes digestive enzymes (amylase, lipase, proteases) and produces insulin and glucagon.
✨ Fun Fact
The angler fish (Lophius) has such a concentrated pancreas that it was used historically as the primary vertebrate source for insulin extraction research.
🔗 Related Digestive Structures