Which structure forms the endocrine component of the pancreas?

Which structure forms the endocrine component of the pancreas?

• A. Acinar cells
• B. Ductal cells
• C. Islet cells (islets of Langerhans)
• D. Exocrine pancreas tissue

Answer: (C)

Pancreas has dual roles: it contains tissue that makes digestive juices (exocrine) and tissue that releases hormones into the blood (endocrine). The endocrine component is formed by the islets of Langerhans, small clusters of hormone-secreting cells scattered among the exocrine tissue. These islets release hormones such as insulin and glucagon directly into the bloodstream to regulate blood glucose. In contrast, acinar cells make digestive enzymes for exocrine secretion into ducts, and ductal cells line those ducts to transport the enzymatic fluid; neither of these are hormones-releasing structures. So the structure that forms the endocrine component of the pancreas is the islet cells (islets of Langerhans).

Pancreas has dual roles: it contains tissue that makes digestive juices (exocrine) and tissue that releases hormones into the blood (endocrine). The endocrine component is formed by the islets of Langerhans, small clusters of hormone-secreting cells scattered among the exocrine tissue. These islets release hormones such as insulin and glucagon directly into the bloodstream to regulate blood glucose. In contrast, acinar cells make digestive enzymes for exocrine secretion into ducts, and ductal cells line those ducts to transport the enzymatic fluid; neither of these are hormones-releasing structures. So the structure that forms the endocrine component of the pancreas is the islet cells (islets of Langerhans).