pancreas

• pancreas is endodermal in origin
• endocrine pancreas consists of 1 to 2 million Islets of Langerhans
• alpha cells secrete glucagon
• beta cells secrete insulin
• delta cells secrete somatostatin
• glucagon acts mainly on hepatocytes
• glucagon stimulates gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis, resulting in hyperglycemia
• glucagon is a hyperglycemic hormone
• insulin acts mainly on hepatocytes and adipocytes
• insulin promotes glycogenesis, resulting in hypoglycemia
• somatostatin controls the secretion of insulin and glucagon
• prolonged hyperglycemia leads to diabetes mellitus
• diabetes mellitus is associated with loss of glucose through urine and formation of ketone bodies
• diabetes mellitus is a result of insulin deficiency