4 syllables: Is, lets of Lang, er, hans. Stress on Is.
eye-lits-uhv-LANG-ur-hanz
/ˈaɪ.lɪts əv ˈlæŋ.ɚ.hænz/
Islets of Langerhans is pronounced eye-lits-uhv-LANG-ur-hanz (/ˈaɪ.lɪts əv ˈlæŋ.ɚ.hænz/). It has four syllables (Is-lets of Lang-er-hans), with the stress on "Is". Islets of Langerhans is a small cluster of pancreatic cells that secrete hormones, notably insulin and glucagon. In anatomy and physiology, the term refers to the micro-organs within the pancreas that regulate blood sugar. The phrase is used in medical discussions, textbooks, and clinical contexts to specify this endocrine tissue structure.
nounIslets of Langerhans is a small cluster of pancreatic cells that secrete hormones, notably insulin and glucagon. In anatomy and physiology, the term refers to the micro-organs within the pancreas that regulate blood sugar. The phrase is used in medical discussions, textbooks, and clinical contexts to specify this endocrine tissue structure.
"The islets of Langerhans play a crucial role in glucose homeostasis and are the target of certain diabetes therapies."
"Researchers isolated islets of Langerhans from donor pancreases to study insulin production."
"Pathologists described damage to the islets of Langerhans in patients with autoimmune diabetes."
Say it as /ˈaɪl.ɪts ɒv ˈlæŋ.ɡərˌhænz/ in US English (stress on IS-lets and LAN-ger-hans); UK speakers often have a slightly non-rhotic /ˈaɪlɪts ɒv ˈlæŋɡəˌhɑːnz/. Break it into three parts: Is-lets, of, Langerhans, with emphasis on the first and the second-to-last syllable of the last word. The name Langerhans yields a soft 'g' as in 'go' and 'hansen' without strong stress on the second syllable. Audio references: you can compare pronunciations on Pronounce or YouGlish examples for 'Langerhans' and 'islets' within scientific context.
Common errors include misplacing the stress, saying ‘Is-lets of Lang-er-hants’ or mispronouncing ‘Langerhans’ as ‘Lang-err-hantss.’ Focus on correct syllable-timing: IS-lets (stress on IS-), of is unstressed, LANG-er-hans places stress on the second-to-last syllable of the name. Ensure the 'L' in Langerhans is clear, and the final ‘s’ is pronounced as /z/ in American practice. Listen to scientific narration to calibrate the rhythm and use minimal pairs to practice the two-word sequence distinctly.
US tends to rhoticize the final consonant cluster smoothly, with /ˈlæŋɡərˌhænz/ish ending; UK may have slightly shorter /ˈlæŋəˌhɑːnz/ with a broader vowel in ‘hanz’; Australian often reduces the vowel in ‘Langerhans’ slightly and may have non-rhotic tendencies in careful speech, sounding closer to /ˈlān(j)ərˌhänz/. Across accents the critical elements are the initial /ˈaɪ/ in Islets, the /ˌlæŋɡ/ onset of the second word, and the final /z/ or /s/; ensure you maintain the hard consonant end in Langerhans.
The difficulty comes from combining a multi-syllabic proper name with a technical term. Students often mispronounce the long second word by chunking it (Lan-ger-hans) or misplacing stress on ‘Langerhans.’ The blend of /ˈaɪlɪts/ and /ˈlæŋɡərˌhænz/ requires careful lip-tension and breath control, especially the dorsal 'g' as in ‘go’ and the final /z/ or /s/ depending on the accent. Practice slowly with IPA guidance to stabilize the rhythm.
Yes—two-part challenge: (1) the surname-like Langerhans with /ˈlæŋɡərˌhænz/ requires a clear /ŋ/ velar nasal and a tense /æ/ in the last syllable, and (2) the plural is not straightforward, as the 'islets' ends with a short /ɪ/ and requires a quick transition to /ɒv/ and then to /ˈlæŋɡərˌhænz/. Keeping the boundary between ‘islets’ and ‘of’ distinct helps avoid slurred sound blends. Focus on breathing for the long /æ/ and crisp /z/ at the end.
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Islets of Langerhans derives from multiple linguistic roots. 'Islet' originates from Middle English islet, diminutive of 'isle' via Old French islette, denoting a small island-like cluster. 'Langerhans' is a toponym honoring the German pathologist Oscar Minkowski’s contemporary, Johannes/Adolph Langerhans? The correct attribution is to pediatrician Albert Löwenheim? Historically, the discovery is credited to Paul Langerhans, who first described the pancreatic islets in 1869. The term ‘Langerhans islets’ slowly evolved into ‘islets of Langerhans’ in English medical literature, with early German texts using ‘Langerhans Islands’ to describe the same clusters. Over the 20th century, the phrase became standardized in anatomy, histology, and endocrinology, reflecting both the anatomical description and eponymic attribution to Langerhans. In modern usage, the term clearly differentiates endocrine islets from the surrounding exocrine pancreatic tissue, maintaining historical eponymy while guiding clinical and research contexts to the specific endocrine micro-organs within the pancreas. First known usage in English appears in late 19th to early 20th century medical texts; in German literature the equivalent term appeared earlier as ‘Langerhans-Inseln.’
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