Answer :
Final answer:
The exocrine pancreas produces pancreatic juice, comprising enzymes from acinar cells and an alkaline solution from ductal cells. The secretion of these components is regulated by hormones like secretin and CCK.
Explanation:
The exocrine pancreas secretes a pancreatic juice consisting of two components: pancreatic enzymes actively secreted by the acinous or acinar cells and an aqueous alkaline solution actively secreted by the ductal cells. The enzymes secreted by the acinar cells include pancreatic lipase for lipid digestion and pancreatic nuclease for nucleic acid digestion.
Adding to this, an alkaline fluid rich in sodium bicarbonate is secreted by the ductal cells, which helps to neutralize the acidic chyme that enters the duodenum from the stomach. This pancreatic juice is essential for proper digestion as it enters the duodenum through the pancreatic duct. The secretion of pancreatic fluid is controlled by hormones such as secretin, which affects the release of sodium bicarbonate, and cholecystokinin (CCK), which stimulates the release of digestive enzymes.