Which organ of the body produces insulin?

The pancreas produces insulin, specifically in beta cells located in clusters called the pancreatic islets, or islets of Langerhans. Insulin is a hormone that helps the body regulate blood glucose.

After a meal, rising blood glucose prompts pancreatic beta cells to release insulin. The hormone helps muscle, fat, and liver cells take up glucose or store it for later use. The liver can convert glucose into glycogen, while fat tissue can use excess energy to form triglycerides. When insulin is absent or ineffective, glucose remains in the bloodstream, contributing to diabetes.

The pancreas has both digestive and hormonal roles. Its exocrine cells release digestive enzymes into the small intestine, while its endocrine islet cells release hormones directly into the blood. Insulin was isolated from animal pancreases in 1921 by Frederick Banting and Charles Best in Toronto, work that led to a major breakthrough in diabetes treatment. The name insulin comes from the Latin word insula, meaning island, referring to the pancreatic islets.