PANCREAS: Compound tubuloacinar gland having exocrine and endocrine parts
Exocrine part: Surrounded by a thin capsule that sends septa into the parenchyma of the gland and divides into irregular lobules.
Parenchyma:
❖
Comprises acini having secretory cells and myoepithelial or basket cells. Secretory cells have a spherical basal nucleus surrounded by basophilic cytoplasm and apical acidophilic cytoplasm having zymogen granules containing trypsinogen and amylase.
❖
Flat centroacinar cells in the acinar lumen form the beginning of the intercalated ducts.
Endocrine part (Pancreatic Islets or Islets of Langerhans): Spherical or ovoid clusters of irregularly anastomosing cords of several types of endocrine cells. These are well supplied by sinusoidal capillaries.
