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Pancreatic Hormones

Author: Amanda Soderlind

Source: Images from Adobe Illustrator; Public Domain

Video Transcript
Terms to Know
Alpha Cells

Cells of the pancreas that secrete glucagon.

Beta Cells

Cells of the pancreas which secrete insulin.

Delta Cells

Cells of the pancreas which secrete somatostatin.

Glucagon

A hormone released by alpha cells in the pancreas which raises blood sugar levels.

Insulin

A hormone released by beta cells in the pancreas which lowers blood sugar levels.

Pancreatic Islets

Small clusters of cells on the pancreas containing cells that manufacture the hormones insulin and glucagon, along with many secretions for the digestive system; also referred to as the islets of Langerhans.

Somatostatin

The exact function of this hormone is not well understood, but it’s believed that it may help regulate alpha and beta cell activity along with some digestive functions.