Which organ in the body contains islets of Langerhans?

The islets of Langerhans are specialized clusters of cells located in the pancreas that play a critical role in regulating blood glucose levels. These islets contain various types of cells, including alpha cells that produce glucagon and beta cells that produce insulin. Insulin is pivotal for lowering blood glucose, while glucagon raises it, demonstrating the islets' essential function in maintaining glucose homeostasis.

The pancreas itself has both endocrine and exocrine functions; the islets of Langerhans fall under its endocrine component, releasing hormones directly into the bloodstream rather than into the digestive tract, which is the function of its exocrine part. Understanding the role of the pancreas and its islets is important in the context of metabolic processes and conditions such as diabetes, where these hormonal functions can be disrupted.