Inflammation of which organ is defined as pancreatitis?

• A. Liver
• B. Stomach
• C. Gallbladder
• D. Pancreas

Answer: (D)

Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas. The pancreas sits behind the stomach and plays a role in digestion by producing enzymes and in blood sugar regulation with insulin. When this organ becomes inflamed, its digestive enzymes can damage its own tissue, leading to the symptoms and signs of pancreatitis. The other organs listed correspond to different inflammatory conditions: inflammation of the liver is hepatitis, inflammation of the stomach is gastritis, and inflammation of the gallbladder is cholecystitis. So the term pancreatitis uniquely identifies inflammation of the pancreas.