They were noticed by Paul Langerhans , a German medical student , in 1869 ; these clusters throughout the pancreas serve several functions .
Some of them make and secrete hormones that help the body break down and use food .
Some were noticed by Paul Langerhans , a German medical student , in 1869 ; these clusters throughout the pancreas serve several functions .
Some of them make and secrete hormones that help the body break down and use food .