islets of Langerhans
islands of Langerhans
/ (ˈlæŋəˌhæns) /
pl n
small groups of endocrine cells in the pancreas that secrete the hormones insulin and glucagon
Origin of islets of Langerhans
1C19: named after Paul Langerhans (1847–88), German physician
Words Nearby islets of Langerhans
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for islets of Langerhans
islets of Langerhans
[ ī′lĭts əv läng′ər-häns′ ]
Irregular clusters of endocrine cells that are scattered throughout the tissue of the pancreas. The islets of Langerhans contain cells that produce and secrete the hormones insulin and glucagon.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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