acinus

views updated Jun 27 2018

ac·i·nus / ˈasənəs/ • n. (pl. -ni / -ˌnī/ ) Anat. 1. a small saclike cavity in a gland, surrounded by secretory cells.2. a region of the lung supplied with air from one of the terminal bronchioles.

acinus

views updated May 18 2018

acinus (pl. acini) The smallest unit of a multilobular gland, such as the pancreas. Each acinus in the pancreas is made up of a hollow cluster of acinar cells, which produce the digestive enzymes secreted in pancreatic juice. Minute ducts from the pancreatic acini eventually drain into the pancreatic duct.

acinus

views updated May 29 2018

acinus (ass-in-ŭs) n. (pl. acini)
1. a small sac or cavity surrounded by the secretory cells of a gland.

2. (in the lung) the tissue supplied with air by one terminal bronchiole.
acinous adj.