ABSTRACT
Several hormones participate in the regulation of carbohydrate metabolism. Four of them are secreted by the cells of the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas: two, insulin and glucagon, have major actions on glucose metabolism and two, somatostatin and pancreatic polypeptide, exert modulating actions on insulin and glucagon secretion. Other hormones affecting carbohydrate metabolism include: epinephrine, thyroid hormones, glucocorticoids, and growth hormones. Some of their actions have been discussed in the respective chapters (10 and 13). Major structure and physiologic characteristics of the endocrine pancreas are summarized in Box 14.1; the exocrine functions are concerned with digestion and are discussed in Chapter 20.
