Endocrine Pancreas

Overview

• Gross anatomy 
  • islets of Langerhans most numerous in tail of pancreas 
    • exocrine pancreas more in the head and body
• Microscopic anatomy
  • 3 cell types
    • α cell
      • secretes glucagon 
      • located in peripheral islet
    • β cell 
      • secretes insulin 
      • located in central islet
    • δ cell
      • secretes somatostatin 
      • located in peripheral islet