islet of Langerhans
noun phrase
islet of Lang·er·hans
-ˈläŋ-ər-ˌhänz 
-ˌhän(t)s
-ˌhän(t)s
plural islets of Langerhans
: one of the clusters of small slightly granular endocrine cells that form anastomosing trabeculae among the tubules and alveoli of the pancreas and secrete insulin and glucagon
Examples of islet of Langerhans in a Sentence
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The latter function is performed by the islets of Langerhans, cells in the pancreas (named after their discoverer, 19th-century German researcher Paul Langerhans) that secrete two different hormones: insulin (to lower blood sugar) and glucagon (to raise it).
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Dylan Matthews, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
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Dylan Matthews, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
Cite this Entry
“Islet of Langerhans.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/islet%20of%20Langerhans. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
islet of Langerhans
noun
islet of Lang·er·hans
-ˈläŋ-ər-ˌhänz
-ˌhän(t)s
plural islets of Langerhans
: one of the groups of small endocrine cells in the pancreas that produce and give off insulin
Medical Definition
islet of Langerhans
noun
islet of Lang·er·hans
-ˈläŋ-ər-ˌhänz
-ˌhän(t)s
-ˌhän(t)s
plural islets of Langerhans
: one of the clusters of small slightly granular endocrine cells that form anastomosing trabeculae among the tubules and alveoli of the pancreas and secrete insulin and glucagon
called also islet
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