What accessory digestive organ secretes gastric juices, amylase, lipase, and protease while also producing insulin?

The pancreas is a crucial accessory digestive organ that performs both exocrine and endocrine functions. It secretes a variety of digestive enzymes, including amylase (which helps break down carbohydrates), lipase (which aids in fat digestion), and protease (which is important for protein digestion). These digestive juices are released into the small intestine to assist with the breakdown and absorption of nutrients from food.

In addition to its role in digestion, the pancreas has an endocrine function where it produces insulin, a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels. This dual functionality makes the pancreas unique among the organs mentioned, as it plays key roles in both nutrient digestion and metabolic control.

In contrast, the other organs listed do not perform these functions. The spleen is primarily involved in immune response and blood filtration rather than digestion. The liver is involved in metabolism, detoxification, and bile production, but not directly in the secretion of digestive enzymes in the same manner as the pancreas. The gallbladder stores bile produced by the liver and releases it to help digest fats, but it does not produce digestive enzymes or hormones like insulin.