Final answer:
The acinar cells in the pancreas are responsible for secreting digestive enzymes that assist in the digestive process, whereas the pancreatic islets (islets of Langerhans) have endocrine functions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The acinar cells serve the digestive process in the pancreas. These cells secrete enzyme-rich pancreatic juice into tiny merging ducts that transport the digestive enzymes to the small intestine. In the duodenum, these enzymes help break down carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids in chyme.
The population of secretory cells within the pancreas that serves the digestive process are the acinar cells. These cells are responsible for producing and secreting enzyme-rich pancreatic juice that aids in the digestion of food in the small intestine. The acinar cells secrete pancreatic enzymes into small ducts which flow into the main pancreatic duct and then to the duodenum. In contrast, the islets of Langerhans, another population of cells within the pancreas, have an endocrine function, which includes the secretion of hormones like insulin and glucagon that regulate blood glucose levels.