Final answer:
Acini in the pancreas refers to clusters of pancreatic acinar cells that produce enzymes contained in pancreatic juice, essential for digestion, and are secreted into the small intestine.
Step-by-step explanation:
Acini (Pancreas Cells)
The pancreas is an organ with both exocrine and endocrine functions. The exocrine part consists of acinus clusters of glandular epithelial cells known as pancreatic acinar cells. These cells are responsible for producing and secreting pancreatic juice, which contains a variety of enzymes vital for the digestion of food. Pancreatic juice is transported into the small intestine via the pancreatic duct. Within the tissue of the pancreas, apart from acini, there are also islets of Langerhans, which are the endocrine part responsible for producing hormones like insulin and glucagon, crucial for regulating glucose metabolism in the body. A microscopic inspection of the pancreas reveals secretory vesicles filled with enzymes within the acinar cells. These enzymes are exported from the cells through a process known as exocytosis.