Answer :
Final answer:
So the correct answer is b) The pancreas releases insulin, glucagon, and pancreatic juice; insulin and glucagon regulate blood sugar levels, and pancreatic juice contains digestive enzymes and bicarbonate ions.
Explanation:
The secretions released by the pancreas and their functions are essential for understanding how the body regulates blood sugar levels and digests food. The correct answer to the question is option b) The pancreas releases insulin, glucagon, and pancreatic juice; insulin and glucagon are crucial in regulating blood sugar levels, while pancreatic juice plays a vital role in digestion.
Insulin, secreted by beta cells, lowers blood sugar levels by promoting the uptake of glucose into tissues. Glucagon, released by alpha cells, has the opposite effect, raising blood sugar levels by stimulating the release of glucose from body cells into the plasma. Lastly, pancreatic juice, containing digestive enzymes and bicarbonate ions, is secreted into the small intestine to chemically break down carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids, and to neutralize the acidic chyme entering the duodenum from the stomach.