Preferred Label : endocrine pancreas;
Uberon definition : The part of the pancreas that is part of the endocrine system and is made up of islet
cells, which produce insulin, glucagon and somatostatin.;
Uberon synonym : pars endocrina pancreatis;
Uberon related term : endocrine part of pancreas; islets of Langerhans part of pancreas;
Uberon Homology note : In the hagfish and lampreys (our most primitive vertebrate species of today), the
first sign of 'a new organ' is found as collections of endocrine cells around the
area of the bile duct connection with the duodenum. These endocrine organs are composed
of 99% beta cells and 1% somatostatin-producing delta cells. Compared to the more
primitive protochordates (e.g. amphioxus), this represents a stage where all previously
scattered insulin-producing cells of the intestinal tissue have now quantitatively
migrated to found a new organ involved in sensing blood glucose rather than gut glucose.
Only later in evolution, the beta cells are joined by exocrine tissue and alpha cells
(exemplified by the rat-, rabbit- and elephant-fishes). Finally, from sharks and onwards
in evolution, we have the islet PP-cell entering to complete the pancreas.[well established][VHOG];
Uberon Taxon note : endocrine and exocrine pancreas are not co-associated in hagfishes or lampreys;
Origin ID : 0000016;
Automatic exact mappings (from CISMeF team)
- Uberon cross reference
- composed primarily of
- contributes to morphology of
- develops from
- has part
- part of
The part of the pancreas that is part of the endocrine system and is made up of islet
cells, which produce insulin, glucagon and somatostatin.
