Ontario Grade 11 University Biology Practice Text

The primary function of the pancreas is to secrete digestive enzymes and insulin. The pancreas plays a crucial role in digestion by producing enzymes that break down carbohydrates, proteins, and fats in the small intestine. These digestive enzymes include amylase, proteases, and lipases, which work to facilitate the breakdown of food so that nutrients can be absorbed by the body.

In addition to its digestive functions, the pancreas is essential for regulating blood sugar levels through the production of insulin, a hormone that allows cells to take in glucose for energy or store it for future use. This dual role of producing both digestive enzymes and hormones is what makes the pancreas vital for overall metabolic health.

Other options describe functions that are not performed by the pancreas. For instance, bile production is primarily the function of the liver, while protein synthesis mainly occurs in the ribosomes of cells. Filtering blood is a function associated with the kidneys rather than the pancreas.