MICROANATOMY

Detailed explanation-1: -Islets of Langerhans are islands of endocrine cells scattered throughout the pancreas. A number of new studies have pointed to the potential for conversion of non- islet cells in to insulin-producing -cells to replenish -cell mass as a means to treat diabetes.

Detailed explanation-2: -islets of Langerhans, also called islands of Langerhans, irregularly shaped patches of endocrine tissue located within the pancreas of most vertebrates. They are named for the German physician Paul Langerhans, who first described them in 1869. The normal human pancreas contains about 1 million islets.

Detailed explanation-3: -A pancreatic cell that produces hormones (e.g., insulin and glucagon) that are secreted into the bloodstream. These hormones help control the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood.

Detailed explanation-4: -The islets of Langerhans (white) contain alpha-cells that produce glucagon and beta-cells that are responsible for the production of insulin.

Detailed explanation-5: -The most important hormone that the pancreas produces is insulin. Insulin is released by the ‘beta cells’ in the islets of Langerhans in response to food. Its role is to lower glucose levels in the bloodstream and promote the storage of glucose in fat, muscle, liver and other body tissues.