Uberon definition : The part of the pancreas that is part of the exocrine system and which produces and
store zymogens of digestive enzymes, such as chymotrypsinogen and trypsinogen in the
acinar cells [GO].;
Uberon synonym : pars exocrina pancreatis;
Uberon related term : exocrine part of pancreas; exocrine component of pancreas;
Uberon Homology note : In the hagfish and lampreys (our most primitive vertebrate species of today), the
first sign of 'a new organ' is found as collections of endocrine cells around the
area of the bile duct connection with the duodenum. These endocrine organs are composed
of 99% beta cells and 1% somatostatin-producing delta cells. Compared to the more
primitive protochordates (e.g. amphioxus), this represents a stage where all previously
scattered insulin-producing cells of the intestinal tissue have now quantitatively
migrated to found a new organ involved in sensing blood glucose rather than gut glucose.
Only later in evolution, the beta cells are joined by exocrine tissue and alpha cells
(exemplified by the rat-, rabbit- and elephant-fishes). Finally, from sharks and onwards
in evolution, we have the islet PP-cell entering to complete the pancreas.[well established][VHOG];
The part of the pancreas that is part of the exocrine system and which produces and
store zymogens of digestive enzymes, such as chymotrypsinogen and trypsinogen in the
acinar cells [GO].