Pancreatitis refers to inflammation of which organ?

• A. Inflammation of the gallbladder
• B. Inflammation of the liver
• C. Inflammation of the intestines
• D. Inflammation of the pancreas

Answer: (D)

Pancreatitis means inflammation of the pancreas, the gland tucked behind the stomach that produces digestive enzymes and hormones like insulin. When this organ becomes inflamed, its digestive enzymes can irritate its own tissue, leading upper abdominal pain that may radiate to the back and elevated pancreatic enzymes in the blood, such as amylase and lipase.

This description specifically targets the pancreas, unlike the other possibilities. Inflammation of the gallbladder is cholecystitis, inflammation of the liver is hepatitis, and inflammation of the intestines is enteritis or inflammatory bowel disease. Each involves a different organ, so pancreatitis correctly refers to the pancreas.