Alveolar gland

Alveolar gland
Section of pancreas of dog. X 250.
Identifiers
THH2.00.02.0.03028
Anatomical terminology

Alveolar glands, also called saccular glands, are glands with a saclike secretory portion, in contrast with tubular glands. They typically have an enlarged lumen (cavity), hence the name: they have a shape similar to alveoli, the very small air sacs in the lungs.

Some sources draw a clear distinction between acinar and alveolar glands, based upon the size of the lumen. A further complication in the case of the alveolar glands may occur in the form of still smaller saccular diverticuli growing out from the main sacculi.

The term "racemose gland" is used to describe a "compound alveolar gland" or "compound acinar gland."

Branched alveolar glands are classified as follows:

Type Description Location
simple branched acinar
thyroid glands
tubuloalveolar
or tubulo-alveolar
or tubulo-acinar
or compound tubulo-acinar
or compound tubuloalveolar
glands that start out as simple branched tubular, and branch further to terminate in alveoli salivary glands,
esophagus
mammary glands


Additional images

See also



This page was last updated at 2024-01-29 01:16 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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