What are Islets of Langerhans?

Islets of Langerhans:

1. Islets of Langerhans, also known as islands of Langerhans, are irregularly shaped regions of endocrine tissue in the pancreas.
2. They were named after Paul Langerhans, a German physician who originally described them in 1869.
3. About 1-2 million islets make up the average human pancreas.
4. These cells make up only 1-2% of pancreatic tissue in a healthy pancreas.
5. Each islet consists of two major types of cells:

• Alpha cells (about 25%)- It secretes a peptide hormone called glucagon.
• Beta cells (about 60%)- It secretes another peptide hormone called insulin.