Langerhans Islands

Eva Rudolf-Müller is a freelance writer in the medical team. She studied human medicine and newspaper sciences and has repeatedly worked in both areas - as a doctor in the clinic, as a reviewer, and as a medical journalist for various specialist journals. She is currently working in online journalism, where a wide range of medicine is offered to everyone.

More about the experts All content is checked by medical journalists.

The islets of Langerhans (islets of Langerhans or Langerhans cells) are tissue islands in the pancreas. As the endocrine part of the pancreas, they produce and secrete various hormones, primarily glucagon and insulin, which regulate blood sugar levels. Read everything you need to know about the Langerhans Islands!

What are the Langerhans Islands?

The islets of Langerhans (islands of Langerhans, Langerhans cells, islet cells) consist of about 2000 to 3000 gland cells surrounded by numerous blood capillaries and have a diameter of only 75 to 500 micrometers. They are distributed irregularly over the entire pancreas, but can be found more frequently in the tail area of ​​the organ. The islets of Langerhans only make up about one to three percent of the total mass of the pancreas.

What is the function of the Langerhans Islands?

The Langerhans Islands produce hormones. Depending on which hormone it is, there are four different types of islet cells:

The A cells release the hormone glucagon when the blood sugar level drops (hypoglycaemia). Because glucagon stimulates the formation of glucose in the cells and its release into the blood, whereby the blood sugar level rises again. In contrast, high levels of glucose in the blood inhibit the A cells. This cell type makes up about 15 percent of the hormone-producing cells in the pancreas.

The B cells (beta cells) produce insulin, with the help of which the glucose uptake in the cells is increased and thus the blood sugar level is lowered. They make up about 80 percent of all cells in the islets of Langerhans.

The D cells produce the hormone somatostatin, which is released during digestion and inhibits the secretion of glucagon from the A cells and insulin from the B cells. It also inhibits the production of digestive secretions and reduces the mobility of the stomach, intestines and gallbladder. About five percent of the cells in the islets of Langerhans are D cells.

The PP cells produce the pancreatic polypeptide. It inhibits the secretion of digestive secretions from the pancreas and creates a feeling of satiety. The PP cells make up less than two percent of the islet cells.

What problems can the Langerhans Islands cause?

Type 1 diabetes (insulin-dependent diabetes) results when the B cells that produce the insulin do not work properly or have even been destroyed by the immune system. It occurs mainly in children and adolescents.

In type 2 diabetes, the body cells react insufficiently or no longer at all to the released insulin.

Benign and malignant tumors in the islets of Langerhans can affect hormone production.

Tags:  healthy feet toadstool poison plants alternative medicine