# Acinus

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Acinus
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Acinus.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acinus
> Source revision: 1340547478
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

Multi-lobed biological cell structure

For the acinus in the lung, see [Lung § Respiratory zone](/source/Lung#Respiratory_zone).

Acinus Normal histology of the breast, including an acinus in lower image. The terminal duct connected to the magnified acinus is not within this microsection. Centroacinar cells Identifiers TH H2.00.02.0.03050 Anatomical terminology [edit on Wikidata]

An **acinus** ([/ˈæsɪnəs/](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/English); pl.: **acini**; adjective, **acinar** [/ˈæsɪnər/](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/English) or **acinous**) refers to any cluster of [cells](/source/Cell_(biology)) that resembles a many-lobed "[berry](/source/Berry-like)", such as a [raspberry](/source/Raspberry) (*[acinus](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/acinus#Latin)* is [Latin](/source/Latin) for "berry"). The berry-shaped termination of an [exocrine gland](/source/Exocrine_gland), where the secretion is produced, is acinar in form, as is the alveolar sac containing multiple [alveoli](/source/Pulmonary_alveolus) in the [lungs](/source/Lungs).

## Exocrine glands

Acinar exocrine glands are found in many organs, including:

- the [stomach](/source/Stomach)[1]

- the [sebaceous gland](/source/Sebaceous_gland) of the [scalp](/source/Scalp)

- the [salivary glands](/source/Salivary_glands) of the [tongue](/source/Tongue)[2]

- the [liver](/source/Liver)

- the [lacrimal glands](/source/Lacrimal_glands)

- the [mammary glands](/source/Mammary_glands)

- the [pancreas](/source/Pancreas)[3]

- the [bulbourethral (Cowper's) glands](/source/Bulbourethral_gland)

The [thyroid](/source/Thyroid) follicles can also be considered of acinar formation but in this case the follicles, being part of an *endocrine* gland, act as a hormonal deposit rather than to facilitate secretion. Mucous acini usually stain pale, while serous acini usually stain dark.

## Lungs

The end of the [terminal bronchioles](/source/Terminal_bronchioles) in the [lungs](/source/Lungs) mark the beginning of a [pulmonary acinus](/source/Pulmonary_acinus) that includes the [respiratory bronchioles](/source/Respiratory_bronchioles), alveolar ducts, alveolar sacs, and [alveoli](/source/Pulmonary_alveolus).[4]

## See also

Look up ***[acinus](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/acinus)*** in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

- [Alveolar gland](/source/Alveolar_gland)

- [Intercalated duct](/source/Intercalated_duct)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [Histology image: 51_07](http://www.ouhsc.edu/histology/Glass%20slides/51_07.jpg) at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center - [pyloric stomach](/source/Pyloric_stomach)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [Histology image: 46_03](http://www.ouhsc.edu/histology/Glass%20slides/46_03.jpg) at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center - [sublingual gland](/source/Sublingual_gland)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [Histology image:10405loa](https://www.bu.edu/phpbin/medlib/histology/p/10405loa.htm) from Vaughan, Deborah (2002). *A Learning System in Histology: CD-ROM and Guide*. [Oxford University Press](/source/Oxford_University_Press). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0195151732](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0195151732).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Weinberger S (2019). *Principles of Pulmonary Medicine*. Elsevier. p. 2. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-323-52371-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-323-52371-4).

## External links

v t e Epithelial tissue Cells Squamous Cuboidal Columnar Types Simple Simple squamous epithelium Endothelium Mesothelium Simple cuboidal epithelium Simple columnar epithelium Stratified Stratified squamous epithelium Stratified cuboidal epithelium Stratified columnar epithelium Other Pseudostratified columnar epithelium Respiratory epithelium Transitional epithelium Urothelium Glands Types Mechanism Merocrine Eccrine Apocrine Holocrine Sebaceous Meibomian Shape Tubular gland Alveolar gland Secretion Serous glands Mucous glands Components Myoepithelial cell Serous demilune Ducts Intralobular Striated Intercalated Acinus/Lobe

This anatomy article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information.

- [v](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Anatomy-stub)
- [t](/source/Template_talk%3AAnatomy-stub)
- [e](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Anatomy-stub)

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Acinus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acinus) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acinus?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.