The tocodynometer measures frequency and duration without measuring intensity. This device may also be limited in its use by how it's placed on the uterus, the size and shape of the mother's abdomen, and the baby's movement. Tocodynometers are usually used in conjunction with a fetal heart rate monitor.
The most important hormone that the pancreas produces is insulin. Insulin is released by the âbeta cellsâ in the islets of Langerhans in response to food. Its role is to lower glucose levels in the bloodstream and promote the storage of glucose in fat, muscle, liver and other body tissues.
The image to the right shows three islets in the pancreas of a horse. Pancreatic islets house three major cell types, each of which produces a different endocrine product: Alpha cells (A cells) secrete the hormone glucagon. Beta cells (B cells) produce insulin and are the most abundant of the islet cells. Delta cells (D cells) secrete the hormone somatostatin, which is also produced by a number of other endocrine cells in the body.