The endocrine parts of the pancreas; glucagon is secreted by the α-cells and insulin by the β-cells.
Cells in the pancreas that produce insulin in response to the presence of glucose (sugar) in the bloodstream. The failure of insulin production results in the disease called diabetes.
Groups of cells in the pancreas which secrete the hormones glucagon, insulin and gastrin [Described 1869. After Paul Langerhans (1847-88), Professor of Pathological Anatomy at Freiburg, Germany.]
The particular segments of the pancreas having an endocrine function. These islets consist of several cell types, one of which is the β cell that produces the hormone insulin. Another is the a cell that produces glucagon, and a third, the D cell, produces somatostatin.
Insulin-producing cells of the pancreas.
Small groups of cells, scattered through the material of the pancreas, that secrete the hormones insulin and glucagon. There are three main histological types of cells: alpha (α), beta (β), and D-cells (α1)- The alpha and beta cells produce glucagon and insulin, respectively.
Groups of specialized cells distributed throughout the pancreas, that produce three hormones: insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin.
Clusters of cells in the pancreas. They are of three types: alpha, beta, and delta cells. The alpha cells secrete glucagon, which raises the blood glucose level; the beta cells secrete insulin, which lowers it; and the delta cells secrete somatostatin, an inhibitor of growth hormone secretion. Destruction or impairment of function of the islets of Langerhans may result in diabetes or hypoglycemia.
Distinct anatomical components situated within the pancreas that play a vital role in the secretion of insulin and perform various other functions. These structures are named in honor of Paul Langerhans, the German scientist who initially discovered and identified them in the year 1869.
The islets of Langerhans are groups of hormone-producing cells located within the pancreas. These clusters consist of at least four distinct cell types, each responsible for producing different hormones that regulate blood glucose levels. One cell type produces insulin, which decreases blood glucose. Another produces glucagon, elevating blood glucose levels. A third type releases somatostatin, which suppresses insulin secretion. The fourth type, which isn’t as well-understood, produces a protein molecule known as pancreatic polypeptide.
A prevalent condition impacting the islets of Langerhans is type 1 diabetes mellitus, where the cells that produce insulin are destroyed. Other rarer conditions involve the development of tumors within specific cell groups in the islets, resulting in an overproduction of their respective hormones.