What is the Origin of Islet of Langerhans?

The structure is named after the German physician and pathologist Paul Langerhans, who first described these unique cell clusters in 1869 during his medical studies. The term islet is derived from the Latin insula, meaning island, which aptly describes the cells' isolated, island-like appearance within the surrounding exocrine pancreatic tissue. This foundational discovery was critical to the later understanding of diabetes mellitus.

What is the Mechanism of Islet of Langerhans?

The islets function through the highly coordinated, paracrine, and endocrine secretion of multiple hormones by distinct cell types. Alpha cells secrete glucagon to elevate blood glucose, Beta cells secrete insulin and amylin to lower it, and Delta cells secrete somatostatin, which locally modulates the activity of the alpha and beta cells. This sophisticated, interconnected communication network ensures precise and rapid control over systemic glucose and energy balance.

Islet of Langerhans ∞ Area

Islet of Langerhans

Meaning

The Islet of Langerhans refers to the microscopic, highly vascularized clusters of specialized endocrine cells that are discretely scattered throughout the exocrine tissue of the pancreas. These cell aggregates are the central functional units of the endocrine pancreas, responsible for the precise synthesis and immediate secretion of crucial hormones directly into the bloodstream. They are the body’s primary, dynamic regulators of systemic blood glucose homeostasis.