Acinar cells

Acinar cells are secretory epithelial cells arranged in small, rounded clusters around a central lumen. They release products into that lumen, which may connect to a duct.

Acinus: An acinus is a small, rounded cluster of secretory cells arranged around a central lumen. Acinar cells form the secretory units called acini.
Epithelial tissue: Epithelial tissue is a sheet or lining of closely connected cells covering surfaces and forming glands. Acinar cells are specialized epithelial cells organized into glandular tissue.
Pancreatic acinar cell: A pancreatic acinar cell is an exocrine pancreatic cell that secretes digestive enzymes and their precursors. Pancreatic acinar cells illustrate enzyme-rich secretion into a duct system.
Endocrine cell: An endocrine cell releases hormones into interstitial fluid and usually the bloodstream rather than into a duct. Unlike acinar cells, endocrine cells typically secrete without a duct-connected lumen.
Exocytosis: Exocytosis is the release of substances when intracellular vesicles fuse with a cell membrane. Many acinar cells discharge stored secretory products by vesicle fusion.
Basement membrane: The basement membrane is a thin extracellular matrix layer that supports and separates epithelial cells from underlying tissue. It supports acini and helps separate their secretory cells from surrounding stroma.
Salivary acinar cell: A salivary acinar cell is a gland cell that secretes watery or protein-rich components of saliva. Salivary glands use acini to initiate saliva production.
Goblet cell: A goblet cell is a mucus-secreting epithelial cell scattered within an epithelial lining. Goblet cells release mucus directly onto an epithelial surface rather than forming acini.
Cell polarity: Cell polarity is the asymmetric organization of a cell’s structures, molecules, and functions. Acinar cell polarity separates product synthesis from release into the lumen.
Tight junction: A tight junction is a cell-cell connection that limits passage between neighboring epithelial cells. Tight junctions help preserve the sealed boundary around an acinar lumen.

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PancreasBroader topic: Pancreatic acinar cells package enzymes into secretory granules.