alpha cell

This term is a precise medical and biological designation used primarily in endocrinology and histology. It describes a specific cell type within the pancreatic islets, distinguished from beta cells by its secretion of glucagon rather than insulin. The term is neutral in tone and is used almost exclusively in scientific, academic, or clinical contexts.

Because it refers to a discrete biological unit, the term follows standard English countability rules for anatomical structures. It is typically used in the singular when discussing cellular function and in the plural when discussing the composition of the islets of Langerhans.