Canadian Medical Guide > Anatomy > Digestive System > Pancreas > Islets of Langerhans Terms and Definitions

Islets of Langerhans

Medical Definition:	Irregular microscopic structures, varying from a few to hundreds of cells, scattered throughout the PANCREAS and comprising its endocrine portion. There are three cell types: alpha, secreting glucagon; beta, secreting insulin; and delta (D CELLS), secreting somatostatin.
Guide Notes:	do not confuse with LANGERHANS CELLS (skin); neopl = ADENOMA, ISLET CELL or CARCINOMA, ISLET CELL or their specifics
Also Called:	Pancreatic alpha Cells,Pancreatic beta Cells

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