part of part of glandular secretory epithelial cell exocrine cell epithelial cell of exocrine pancreas pancreas exocrine glandular cell exocrine pancreas glandular cell BTO:0000028 pancreas exocrine glandular cells Glandular cell of exocrine pancreas epithelium. Example: pancreatic acinar cell, glandular cells in pancreatic canaliculi, glandular cells in pancreatic ducts. CALOHA:TS-1242 https://cellxgene.cziscience.com/cellguide/CL_1001599 Pancreas exocrine glandular cells are a specialized type of cell which comprises roughly 80-90% of the pancreas tissue. These include pancreatic acinar cells, which have a distinct shape similar to a small flask or pouch. They are organized into small, grape-like clusters or acini, which are connected to a series of progressively larger ducts leading to the main pancreatic duct. In addition, pancreatic goblet cells are another type of pancreas exocrine glandular cell found in lower frequency in the pancreatic duct. The primary function of pancreas exocrine glandular cells is the synthesis, storage and secretion of pancreatic enzymes. These enzymes, including amylase, lipase, and proteases, are vital for the digestion of food in the small intestine, particularly the breakdown of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. The secretion of pancreatic digestive enzymes is typically in an inactive precursor form to prevent auto-digestion, and are then activated within the lumen of the small intestine. The pancreas exocrine glandular cells possess an abundance of organelles, including ribosomes, rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatuses, reflecting their high level of protein synthesis. Additionally, these cells demonstrate the typical polarity of glandular epithelial cells, with the nucleus and most of the cytoplasmic organelles situated towards the base of the cell, away from the lumen. This anatomical arrangement enables efficient secretion of enzymes and protects cellular structures from the potential damage caused by prematurely activated enzymes. These cells work in a sophisticated manner to ensure optimal digestion of food, playing a pivotal role in the body's nutrition absorption process. (This extended description was generated by ChatGPT and reviewed by the CellGuide team, who added references, and by the CL editors, who approved it for inclusion in CL. It may contain information that applies only to some subtypes and species, and so should not be considered definitional.) Homo sapiens exocrine pancreas exocrine pancreas epithelium