islets of Langerhans

British  

/ ˈlæŋəˌhæns /

plural noun

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

---

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.

---

Etymology

Origin of islets of Langerhans

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

Example Sentences

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

From Science Daily • Dec. 4, 2023

Initially, the group examined the number of pancreatic β cells in the islets of Langerhans in a mouse model of pregnancy.

From Science Daily • Dec. 4, 2023

Clusters of endocrine cells in the pancreas form the islets of Langerhans, which are composed of alpha cells that release glucagon and beta cells that release insulin.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

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

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 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.