Acinus
An acinus refers to any cluster of cells that resembles a many-lobed "berry", such as a raspberry. The berry-shaped termination of an exocrine gland, where the secretion is produced, is acinar in form, as is the alveolar sac containing multiple alveoli in the lungs.
Exocrine glands
Acinar exocrine glands are found in many organs, including:- the stomach
- the sebaceous gland of the scalp
- the salivary glands of the tongue
- the liver
- the lacrimal glands
- the mammary glands
- the pancreas
- the bulbourethral glands
Mucous acini usually stain pale, while serous acini usually stain dark.