ISSA Nutritionist Practice Exam

Specialized cells in the pancreas that secrete insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin are known as?

1. Acinar cells

2. Islets of Langerhans

3. Beta cells

4. Alpha cells

The correct answer is: Islets of Langerhans

The specialized cells in the pancreas that secrete insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin are known as the Islets of Langerhans. These islets are clusters of cells that play a crucial role in glucose metabolism and overall energy regulation in the body. Specifically, they contain different types of cells: beta cells produce insulin, which lowers blood sugar levels; alpha cells produce glucagon, which raises blood sugar levels; and delta cells secrete somatostatin, which regulates the endocrine system and inhibits the secretion of both insulin and glucagon to maintain homeostasis. Understanding this arrangement is essential, as it highlights how the pancreas functions not only as an exocrine gland (producing digestive enzymes) but also as an endocrine organ that regulates important metabolic processes through hormone secretion. This unique structure and function of the Islets of Langerhans are critical in understanding diseases such as diabetes mellitus, where either insulin production or response is impaired.