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Human Body Study

Pancreatic Islets

Small clusters of hormone-producing cells scattered through the pancreas — also called the islets of Langerhans. They are the endocrine part of an organ that is otherwise mostly digestive.

The endocrine system A stylised body with the eight endocrine glands placed at their anatomical positions: hypothalamus, pituitary, pineal, thyroid, parathyroids, adrenals, pancreatic islets and gonads. Each label links to the article for that gland. Hypothalamus Pituitary gland Pineal gland Thyroid gland Parathyroid glands Adrenal glands Pancreatic islets Gonads The endocrine glands at their anatomical positions — schematic, not to scale.

Key cells

Section titled “Key cells”
  • Beta cells — produce insulin, which lowers blood sugar.
  • Alpha cells — produce glucagon, which raises blood sugar.
  • Delta cells — produce somatostatin, which moderates the other two.

What they do

Section titled “What they do”

Keep blood glucose within a narrow range by balancing insulin against glucagon.

Key idea

Section titled “Key idea”

The same organ digests food and regulates the fuel released from it; the islets are the regulatory part. See the pancreatic / glucose axis.