Islets of Langerhans facts for kids

The pancreatic islets, also known as the islets of Langerhans, are tiny groups of cells found inside your pancreas. Think of them as mini-factories within a larger organ. These special cells are super important because they create and release different hormones directly into your bloodstream. Hormones are like chemical messengers that tell your body what to do. One of the most famous hormones made here is insulin, which helps your body use sugar for energy.

What Are Pancreatic Islets?

The pancreas is an organ located behind your stomach. While most of the pancreas helps you digest food, the pancreatic islets have a different job. They are like small islands of cells scattered throughout the pancreas. These islets are vital for keeping your body's energy levels balanced.

Why Are They Called Islets of Langerhans?

These tiny cell clusters were first discovered in 1869 by a German scientist named Paul Langerhans. He was using a microscope and noticed these distinct groups of cells that looked different from the rest of the pancreas. That's why they are often called the "islets of Langerhans" in his honor!

What Do Islets Do for Your Body?

The main job of the pancreatic islets is to control your blood sugar (glucose) levels. When you eat, your body breaks down food into glucose, which is sugar. This sugar is your body's main source of energy. The islets make sure there's just the right amount of sugar in your blood, not too much and not too little.

Different Cells, Different Jobs

The pancreatic islets contain several types of cells, and each type makes a different hormone:

• Alpha cells (α-cells) produce a hormone called glucagon. Glucagon's job is to raise blood sugar levels when they get too low. It tells your liver to release stored sugar.
• Beta cells (β-cells) are the most common type of cell in the islets. They produce insulin. Insulin helps your body's cells take sugar from the blood to use for energy or store it for later.
• Delta cells (δ-cells) make somatostatin. This hormone helps control the release of other hormones, including insulin and glucagon.
• PP cells (or Gamma cells) produce pancreatic polypeptide. Scientists are still learning all about what this hormone does, but it seems to help regulate digestion and appetite.

How Do Islets Keep You Healthy?

Imagine your body needs a steady supply of energy, like a car needs fuel. The pancreatic islets are like the fuel gauge and the fuel pump, working together to make sure your body gets the right amount of sugar.

When you eat a meal, especially one with carbohydrates, your blood sugar levels go up. Your beta cells sense this and release insulin. Insulin acts like a key, unlocking your body's cells so they can absorb the sugar from your blood. This lowers your blood sugar back to a healthy level.

If you haven't eaten for a while, or if you've been very active, your blood sugar levels might drop. That's when your alpha cells step in and release glucagon. Glucagon tells your liver to release stored sugar, bringing your blood sugar back up.

This careful balancing act by the islets is crucial for your health.

What Happens When Islets Don't Work Right?

Sometimes, the pancreatic islets don't work as they should. This can lead to health problems, the most common being diabetes.

Diabetes and the Islets

• Type 1 diabetes happens when your body's immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the beta cells in your pancreatic islets. This means your body can't make enough insulin, or any at all. People with Type 1 diabetes need to take insulin shots to manage their blood sugar.
• Type 2 diabetes is different. In this type, your body either doesn't make enough insulin, or your body's cells don't respond well to the insulin that is made (this is called insulin resistance). The beta cells might try to make more insulin at first, but over time, they can get tired and stop working as well.

Scientists are always researching the pancreatic islets to better understand how they work and how to help people with diabetes.

Images for kids

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  A pancreatic islet, stained to show its structure.

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  A pancreatic islet, showing alpha cells (stained red).

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  A pancreatic islet, showing beta cells (stained brown).

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  Mouse islet immunostained for pancreatic polypeptide (green).

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  Mouse islet immunostained for insulin (green).

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  Mouse islet immunostained for glucagon (red).

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  Pancreatic islets (lighter tissue) among the darker, acinar pancreatic tissue, seen under a microscope.

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  Illustration of a dog pancreas. The islets are tiny dots within the larger organ.

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  Structural differences between rat islets (top) and human islets (bottom). Different cell types are color-coded.

See also

In Spanish: Islotes pancreáticos para niños