Lesson Plan: The Pancreas Biology
This lesson plan includes the objectives, prerequisites, and exclusions of the lesson teaching students how to describe the structure and the function of the pancreas in the human body.
Objectives
Students will be able to
- describe the microscopic structure of the pancreas and identify the pancreatic acini and the alpha and beta islets of Langerhan cells,
- explain why the pancreas is considered a mixed gland,
- recall that the exocrine secretions of the pancreas are the pancreatic juices containing enzymes secreted from the acini into the small intestine via the pancreatic duct,
- recall that the endocrine secretions of the pancreas are the hormones insulin and glucagon, secreted from the beta and alpha islets of Langerhan cells,
- state the effect of the hormones insulin and glucagon on the body, with reference to blood glucose concentrations.
Prerequisites
Students should already be familiar with
- the general human endocrine system,
- hormones as chemical messengers.
Exclusions
Students will not cover
- negative feedback in the control of blood glucose.