pancreas
UK[ˈpæŋkriəs]US[ˈpæŋkriəs]
n
a large gland behind the stomach that produces insulin and substances that help the body digest food
Etymology
the word pancreas entered english in the late 16th century via latin, from the greek 'pankreas', meaning 'sweetbread'. the greek term is a compound of 'pan', meaning 'all', and 'kreas', meaning 'flesh'. this literal description, 'all flesh', likely referred to the organ's uniform, fleshy substance. over time, the anatomical and functional understanding of the organ evolved, but the ancient name, describing its physical appearance, persisted into modern medical terminology.
Analysis
the word is a simplex loanword from latin and greek. it does not divide into meaningful sub-parts using its modern english spelling.
Examples
the pancreas secretes enzymes that are essential for digestion.
diabetes is a condition that affects how the body processes blood sugar, often involving the pancreas.
the surgeon carefully removed the tumor from the patient's pancreas.