acinus

noun

ac·​i·​nus ˈa-sə-nəs 

plural acini ˈa-sə-ˌnī 

: any of the small sacs terminating the ducts of some exocrine glands and lined with secretory cells

acinous

ˈa-sə-nəs 

adjective

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin (in the phrase glandulosi acini,) literally, "glandular berries," used by Marcello malpighi, going back to Latin, "berry, grape, berry or grape seed," probably of pre-Latin substratal origin

First Known Use

circa 1751, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

acinus

noun

aci·​nus ˈas-ə-nəs  ə-ˈsī- 

plural acini -ˌnī 

: any of the small sacs or alveoli that terminate the ducts of some exocrine glands and are lined with secretory cells