Islets of Langerhans |
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| Cell, Islet; Cells, Islet; Endocrine Pancreas; Islet Cell; Islet, Pancreatic; Islets, Pancreatic; Langerhans Islands; Langerhans Islets; Nesidioblast; Pancreatic Islet | |
| Irregular microscopic structures consisting of cords of endocrine cells that are scattered throughout the PANCREAS among the exocrine acini. Each islet is surrounded by connective tissue fibers and penetrated by a network of capillaries. There are four major cell types. The most abundant beta cells (50-80%) secrete INSULIN. Alpha cells (5-20%) secrete GLUCAGON. PP cells (10-35%) secrete PANCREATIC POLYPEPTIDE. Delta cells (~5%) secrete SOMATOSTATIN. | |