islet of Langerhans

[ lahng-er-hahns, -hahnz, lahng-ger- ]

noun

, Anatomy.

1. any of several masses of endocrine cells in the pancreas that secrete insulin, somatostatin, and glucagon.

Word History and Origins

Origin of islet of Langerhans¹

Named after Paul Langerhans (1847–88), German anatomist, who described them in 1869

Example Sentences

The β-cells even formed clusters that are similar to those found in a pancreatic structure called the islet of Langerhans.

From Nature