islets of Langerhans

British  

/ ˈlæŋəˌhæns /

plural noun

1. small groups of endocrine cells in the pancreas that secrete the hormones insulin and glucagon

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islets of Langerhans Scientific  

/ ī′lĭtsəvläng′ər-häns′ /

1. Irregular clusters of endocrine cells that are scattered throughout the tissue of the pancreas. The islets of Langerhans contain cells that produce and secrete the hormones insulin and glucagon.

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Etymology

Origin of islets of Langerhans

C19: named after Paul Langerhans (1847–88), German physician

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

islets of Langerhans

Next, the group identified the protein responsible for attracting the macrophages into the islets of Langerhans: cytokine CXCL10.

From Science Daily ● Dec. 4, 2023

Additional microscopic observation of the islets of Langerhans after birth revealed β cells to be phagocytosed by macrophages.

From Science Daily ● Dec. 4, 2023

Scattered through the sea of exocrine acini are small islands of endocrine cells, the islets of Langerhans.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 19, 2013

The endocrine cells of the pancreas form clusters called pancreatic islets or the islets of Langerhans.

From Textbooks ● Apr. 25, 2013

Scattered here and there among the definitely glandular cell groups creating the external secretion are smaller collections of cells, called the islets of Langerhans, which have been demonstrated to elaborate the internal secretion.

From The Glands Regulating Personality by Berman, Louis, M.D.