Anatom3DIslets of Langerhans
Insulae pancreaticae · Langerhansovy ostrůvky
Endocrine glands
Looks like
About a million microscopic clusters of hormone cells scattered through the pancreas.
What it does
Release insulin and glucagon to keep blood sugar in range.
Keeping it well
Autoimmune destruction causes type 1 diabetes; thirst, frequent urination and weight loss, especially in a child, need a same-day sugar test.
Related conditions
- Adrenal insufficiency (Addison's)
- Cystic fibrosis
- Diabetic ketoacidosis
- Gestational diabetes
- Haemochromatosis & Wilson's disease
- Hereditary cancer syndromes (BRCA, Lynch)
- Hyperthyroidism & Graves' disease
- Hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar)
- Hypothyroidism
- Menopause & perimenopause
- Mumps
- Neuroendocrine tumours (carcinoid)
- Pancreatic cancer
- Pancreatitis
- Polycystic ovary syndrome
- Postnatal depression
- Prediabetes
- Type 1 diabetes
- Type 2 diabetes