Page 636 - Atlas of Histology with Functional Correlations

FIGURE 16.11 ■ A section from the pancreas is illustrated, with emphasis on
the details of the duct system of the exocrine pancreas.

ENDOCRINE PANCREAS

The endocrine units of the pancreas are scattered among the exocrine acini as

isolated, pale-staining, and highly vascularized units called pancreatic islets (of
Langerhans). Each islet is surrounded by fine fibers of the reticular connective
tissue. With special immunocytochemical staining, three cell types are identified
in each pancreatic islet: alpha, beta, and delta. Other cells in the pancreatic

islets, including the pancreatic polypeptide (PP) cells, are considered as minor

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