Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas, an organ that is important in digestion. Pancreatitis can be acute (beginning suddenly, usually with the patient recovering fully) or chronic (progressing slowly with continued, permanent injury to the pancreas).

The pancreas is located in the abdomen, near the liver, stomach, and duodenum (the first part of the small intestine). The pancreas is considered a gland. A gland is an organ whose main function is to produce chemicals that pass either into the main blood circulation (called an endocrine function), or pass into another organ (called an exocrine function). The pancreas is unusual because it has both endocrine and exocrine functions. Its endocrine function produces three hormones. Two of these hormones, insulin and glucagon, help the body process sugars in the diet. The third hormone, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), affects the functioning of the stomach and intestines. In its exocrine function, the...