Pancreatic Islets, Functions, Diseases, A Simple Guide To The Condition, Diagnosis, Treatment And Related Conditions

This book describes Pancreatic Islet Cell, Functions, Diseases, Diagnosis and Treatment and Related Diseases
The pancreas is an endocrine system and a glandular organ in the digestive system of humans.

It is both:

1. An endocrine gland in the Islets of Langerhans producing several important hormones such as insulin, glucagon, somatostatin and pancreatic polypeptide.

2. A digestive organ, secreting pancreatic juice containing digestive enzymes that assist the absorption of nutrients and the digestion in the small intestine
A healthy human pancreas contains about three million of the islet cells but their total weight is only 1 to 1.5 grams (0.03 to 0.05 ounces) or about 1% of the weight of the pancreas.
The majority of the pancreas is composed of acinar cells (99% of pancreas)
The pancreas is a solid gland measuring 20-25cm in length, 4-6cm in width and 3-4cm in depth.
It is firmly attached in the back of the abdominal cavity behind the stomach
The pancreas is a mixture of two glands, the exocrine pancreas and the endocrine pancreas.
1. The exocrine pancreas releases substances into the intestine.
2. The endocrine pancreas releases substances into the bloodstream.
The two glands function together during meals:
1. To help digest the food (the exocrine pancreas).
2. To inform the rest of the body that food is being digested and absorbed and on their way to other cells of the body (the endocrine pancreas).
Pancreatic Islets Cells
There are about 3 million islets spread in the form of density paths throughout the pancreas of a healthy adult human, each of which measures an average of about 0.1 mm (109 µm) in diameter
Each is detached from the adjoining pancreatic tissue by a thin fibrous connective tissue capsule which is constant with the fibrous connective tissue that is connected with the rest of the pancreas
The pancreatic islets make up 1-2% of the pancreas volume and receive 10–15% of its blood flow.
The endocrine pancreas has five types of cells:
1.Alpha cells secrete glucagon (increase glucose in blood),
2.Beta cells secrete insulin (decrease glucose in blood),
3.Delta cells secrete somatostatin (regulates/stops alpha and beta cells), and
4.PP cells or gamma cells (secrete pancreatic polypeptide).
5.Epsilon cells produce ghrelin (