Islets
Islets of Langerhans
Islets of Langerhans (pronounced: ˈī-ləts əv ˈlan-gər-ˌhänz) are clusters of cells in the pancreas that produce important hormones such as insulin and glucagon. The term "islets" comes from the Latin word "insula", which means "island", and "Langerhans" is named after the German physician Paul Langerhans who discovered them.
Etymology
The term "Islets of Langerhans" is derived from the Latin word "insula", meaning "island", and "Langerhans", named after the German physician Paul Langerhans who discovered these structures in the pancreas.
Function
The Islets of Langerhans are responsible for the production of several hormones, most notably insulin and glucagon. These hormones play a crucial role in maintaining normal blood glucose levels, with insulin promoting the uptake of glucose into cells and glucagon stimulating the release of glucose from stored sources.
Related Terms
- Insulin: A hormone produced by the beta cells in the Islets of Langerhans that promotes the uptake of glucose into cells.
- Glucagon: A hormone produced by the alpha cells in the Islets of Langerhans that stimulates the release of glucose from stored sources.
- Pancreas: The organ in which the Islets of Langerhans are located.
- Diabetes: A disease characterized by the body's inability to properly regulate blood glucose levels, often due to issues with insulin production or function.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Islets
- Wikipedia's article - Islets
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski