ISLETS OF LANGERHANS

Pronunciation (US):

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does islets of Langerhans mean? 

• ISLETS OF LANGERHANS (noun)
  The noun ISLETS OF LANGERHANS has 1 sense:

1. cell clusters in the pancreas that form the endocrine part of that organ; secrete insulin and other hormones

  Familiarity information: ISLETS OF LANGERHANS used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ISLETS OF LANGERHANS (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Cell clusters in the pancreas that form the endocrine part of that organ; secrete insulin and other hormones

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Synonyms:

islands of Langerhans; isles of Langerhans; islets of Langerhans

Hypernyms ("islets of Langerhans" is a kind of...):

ductless gland; endocrine; endocrine gland (any of the glands of the endocrine system that secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream)

Holonyms ("islets of Langerhans" is a part of...):

pancreas (a large elongated exocrine gland located behind the stomach; secretes pancreatic juice and insulin)

 Context examples 

Cancer arising from cells in the islets of Langerhans, which are found in the pancreas.

(Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Carcinoma, NCI Dictionary)

A lack of pancreatic polypeptide in the islets of Langerhans has been associated with the obese syndrome in rats and mice.

(Pancreatic polypeptide, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)

A malignant endocrine neoplasm arising from islets of Langerhans of the pancreas.

(Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Carcinoma, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)

A pancreatic hormone secreted by the alpha cells of the islets of Langerhans.

(Glucagon, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)

The pancreatic tissue that contains the islets of Langerhans.

(Endocrine Pancreas, NCI Thesaurus)

A non-neoplastic or neoplastic disorder that affects the endocrine pancreatic tissue (islets of Langerhans).

(Endocrine Pancreas Disorder, NCI Thesaurus)

A cell that composes the bulk of the islets of Langerhans and secretes insulin.

(Beta Cell, NCI Thesaurus)

A sporadic or inherited disorder characterized by the focal or diffuse proliferation of the cells of the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas.

(Nesidioblastosis, NCI Thesaurus)