Question

What is the technical term for the cells of the pancreas that produce endocrine hormones?

Answer 1

Hint: The endocrine part of any organ refers to the part of the organ which is responsible for secreting hormones. Pancrease is an organ which has both endocrines as well as exocrine glands and so it is named as a heterocrine gland.

 Complete answer: The pancreas is an elongated organ next to the small intestine's first part. The endocrine pancreas means those cells within the pancreas that synthesize and secretes hormones. The endocrine portion of the pancreas forms a cluster of cells that are called islets of Langerhans. i.e., Humans have millions of islets.
1. Pancreatic islet house secrete three major cell types that are alpha, beta, and delta cells. 2. These cells produce different endocrine products.
3. Alpha cells secrete the hormone glucagon.
4. Beta cells produce insulin and are the most abundant islets in humans.
5. While delta cells secrete the hormone somatostatin which is produced by several other endocrine cells in the body.
6. Islets are highly vascularized and also allow their secretions of hormones to access for the circulation.
7. Although they provide nervous signals for the modulate or accurate secretions of insulin and glucagon.

Note: The islets of Langerhans constitute the endocrine part of the pancreas and the acini cells form the exocrine part.
Endocrine glands are the ones that secrete their secretions directly into the blood like hormones while exocrine glands secrete enzymes and other metabolites into ducts.