Medical Terminology: Pancreas and Lipid Metabolism Tests

1. What are Pancreas and Lipid Metabolism Tests?
The pancreas produces insulin and glucagon along with digestive enzymes that are used by the small intestine to break down carbohydrates, protein, and fat. Health providers administer pancreatic tests to determine pancreatic function.
Lipids are compounds used to store energy and develop cell membranes, and are elements of vitamins and hormones. Lipids combine with protein to form lipoprotein. Common lipoproteins in the body are cholesterol and triglycerides.
Cholesterol is released into the bloodstream mostly by the liver and other organs, although some cholesterol is ingested in food. Two types of cholesterol are high density lipoprotein (HDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL).
There is a balance between LDL and HDL. LDL is distributed to cells throughout the body by the bloodstream. Excess LDL is removed by HDL from the blood and transported to the liver, where LDL is metabolized into bile acids and excreted from the body. An imbalance occurs when there is too much LDL in the blood, leading to accumulation of LDL on the artery walls and causing a narrowing of the arteries that leads to a blockage.
Health care providers order lipid metabolism tests to determine the level of lipids in the patient’s bloodstream.

2. Amylase Test
The amylase test is used to screen for pancreatic disease, pancreatitis, and inflammation of the salivary glands, and assess treatment for pancreatic and salivary gland disease.

Understanding the Amylase Test
Amylase is an enzyme that breaks down starch into sugar. Amylase is produced by the salivary glands and pancreas. The amylase test measures the amount of amylase in blood. There is normally a low level of amylase in blood unless the salivary glands or pancreas is blocked or damaged.

3. Lipase Test
The lipase test is used to screen for pancreatic disease, pancreatitis, and cystic fibrosis, and assess treatment for pancreatitis and cystic fibrosis.

Understanding the Lipase Test
Lipase is an enzyme in the pancreas. Levels of lipase in the blood increase when the pancreatic duct is blocked or there is damage to the pancreas. The lipase test measures the level of lipase in blood.
The lipase test does not diagnose pancreatic disorder. A high level of lipase in blood requires additional testing. The health care provider may order the amylase test at the same time as the lipase test.

4. Cholesterol and Triglycerides Tests
The cholesterol and triglycerides tests are used to screen for the risk of cardiac disease, assess the underlying cause of yellow fatty deposits in the skin called xanthomas, and assess the treatment for lipid disorder.

Understanding the Cholesterol and Triglycerides Tests
Cholesterol is produced in the liver and used for cell growth and hormone production. Cholesterol attaches to a protein in the blood forming a lipoprotein. Excess cholesterol in the blood forms plaque on the side of blood vessels that can lead to cardiovascular disorders. The cholesterol and triglycerides tests profile the lipoprotein to measure components of cholesterol. These components are:
- Total Cholesterol: Total cholesterol is the total amount of LDL and HDL in the blood sample.
- Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL): LDL transport lipids from the liver. High levels of LDL increase the risk of cardiovascular disorders.
- Very Low Density Lipoprotein (VLDL): VLDL distributes triglycerides that are produced in the liver. High levels of VLDL increase the risk of cardiovascular disorders.
- High Density Lipoprotein (HDL): HDL binds with lipids in the blood, returning lipids to the liver, where lipids are metabolized. High levels of HDL decrease the risk of cardiovascular disorders.
- Triglycerides: Triglycerides are stored lipids. High levels of triglycerides and high levels of LDL increase the risk of cardiovascular disorders.

Basic Questions
Pancreas and Lipid Metabolism Tests

1. What is the function of digestive enzymes produced by the pancreas?
The pancreas produces insulin and glucagon along with digestive enzymes that are used by the small intestine to break down carbohydrates, protein, and fat.

2. What are lipids?
Lipids are compounds used to store energy and develop cell membranes, and are elements of vitamins and hormones.

3. What is a lipoprotein?
Lipids combine with protein to form a lipoprotein.

4. What are common lipoproteins in the body?
Common lipoproteins in the body are cholesterol and triglycerides.

5. What releases cholesterol into the bloodstream?
Cholesterol is released into the bloodstream mostly by the liver.

6. What are two types of cholesterol in the body?
Two types of cholesterol in the body are high density lipoprotein (HDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL).

7. What is the function of low density lipoprotein (LDL)?
LDL is distributed to cells throughout the body by the bloodstream, where it is used as stored energy and used to develop cell membranes.

8. What is the function of high density lipoprotein (HDL)?
Excess LDL is removed by HDL from the blood and transported to the liver.

9. What happens to excess LDL?
LDL is metabolized into bile acids by the liver and excreted from the body.

10. What happens when there is too much LDL?
An imbalance occurs when too much LDL is in the blood, leading to accumulation of LDL on the artery walls, causing a narrowing of the arteries, and leading to a blockage.

11. What is the purpose of the amylase test?
The amylase test is used to screen for pancreatic disease, pancreatitis, and inflammation of the salivary glands, and assessment of treatment for pancreatic and salivary gland disease.

12. What is amylase?
Amylase is an enzyme that breaks down starch into sugar.

13. Where is amylase produced?
Amylase is produced by the salivary glands and the pancreas.

14. What does a low level of amylase in blood indicate?
A low level of amylase in blood is normal.

15. What might a high level of amylase in blood indicate?
A high level of amylase in blood indicates that the salivary glands or pancreas are blocked or damaged.

16. What is the purpose of the lipase test?
The lipase test is used to screen for pancreatic disease, pancreatitis, and cystic fibrosis, and assess treatment for pancreatitis and cystic fibrosis.

17. What is lipase?
Lipase is an enzyme in the pancreas.

18. What does a low level of lipase in blood indicate?
A low level of lipase in blood is normal.

19. What does a high level of lipase in blood indicate?
A high level of lipase in blood indicates that the pancreatic duct is blocked or there is damage to the pancreas.

20. Is the lipase test used to diagnose pancreatic disorders?
No. A high level of lipase in blood requires the health care provider to order additional tests.

21. What is the purpose of the cholesterol and triglycerides tests?
The cholesterol and triglycerides tests are used to screen for the risk of cardiac disease, assess the underlying cause of yellow fatty deposits in the skin called xanthomas, and assess the treatment for lipid disorder.

22. What is the purpose of the total cholesterol test?
To measure the total amount of LDL and HDL in the blood sample.

23. What is the purpose of the low density lipoprotein (LDL) test?
LDL transports lipids from the liver. High levels of LDL increase the risk of cardiovascular disorders.

24. What is the purpose of the very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) test?
VLDL distributes triglycerides that are produced in the liver. High levels of VLDL increase the risk of cardiovascular disorders.

25. What is the purpose of the high density lipoprotein (HDL) test?
HDL binds with lipids in the blood, returning lipids to the liver where lipids are metabolized. High levels of HDL decrease the risk of cardiovascular disorders.