ACUTE PANCREATITIS BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF PANCREATIC EXOCRINE SECRETION The pancreas secretes 1500–3000 mL of isosmotic alkaline (pH >8) fluid per day containing about 20 enzymes. The pancreatic secretions provide the enzymes and bicarbonate needed to affect the major digestive activity of the gastrointestinal tract and provide an optimal pH for the function of these