| falkland islands | A british colony in the atlantic islands, comprising two principal islands, east falkland and west falkland. Its capital is stanley. Discovered in 1592, it was not occupied until the french settled there briefly in 1764. Later the english settled there but were expelled by the spanish in 1770. The falklands were claimed by argentina but were occupied in 1833 by the british who, after an april 1982 invasion by argentina, regained them in june. The islands were named by british captain john strong in 1690 for the fifth viscount falkland who financed strong's expedition. The spanish name for the islands, malvinas, is from the french malouins, inhabitants of st. Malo who attempted to colonise the islands in 1764. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| Langerhans | <anatomy> Groups of cells found within the pancreas: A cells and B-cells secrete insulin and glucagon. See: D cells. (18 Nov 1997) |
| langerhans cell | Paul langerhans, german pathologist, 1847-1888 1. Star-shaped cells in the deeper portions of the germinative layer of the epidermis. 2. Irregulare wandering cells in the intercellular spaces of rhe cornea. Synonym: Langerhans stellate corpuscles. (16 Dec 1997) |
| langerhans cell histiocytoses | An immunologic disorder of unknown cause where there is proliferation of histiocytes (a type of cell in the immune system) in the bloodstream. The disorder is characterised by inflammation of the bronchioles and small pulmonary vessels that leads to fibrosis and destruction of alveolar cell walls. Cigarette smoking is considered a risk factor. Individuals with this disorder are also at increased risk for spontaneous pneumothorax. Symptoms include cough, chest pains, shortness of breath, fever, weight loss and malaise. Bronchoscopy with biopsy confirms the diagnosis. Childhood forms exist and cause more systemic symptoms and findings such as failure to thrive, weight loss, fevers, irritability, rash and bone pains. Treatment is with corticosteroids. (27 Sep 1997) |
| langerhans cells | Recirculating, dendritic, antigen-presenting cells containing characteristic racket-shaped granules (birbeck granules). They are found principally in the stratum spinosum of the epidermis and are rich in class II major histocompatibility complex molecules. (12 Dec 1998) |
| Langerhans' cells | Dendritic clear cell's in the epidermis, containing distinctive granules that appear rod-or racket-shaped in section, but lacking tonofilaments, melanosomes, and desmosomes; they carry surface receptors for immunoglobulin (Fc) and complement (C3), and are believed to be antigen fixing and processing cell's of monocytic origin; active participants in cutaneous delayed hypersensitivity. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Langerhans' granule | A small tennis racket-shaped membrane-bound granule with characteristic cross-striated internal ultrastructure; first reported in Langerhans' cells of the epidermis. Synonym: Birbeck's granule. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Langerhans, Paul | <person> B. Berlin, July 25th, 1847. Was a Physician and an Anatomist and became Professor of Pathological Anatomy in Freiburg. On his retirement went to Madeira. D. Funchal, July 20th, 1888. Islets of Langerhans - collection of cells in the pancreas which produce insulin and glucagon. Cells of Langerhans - dendritic cells found in the epidermis of the skin. Lived: 1847-1888. (05 Dec 1998) |