acinus /ac·i·nus/ (as´ĭ-nus) pl. a´cini [L.] a small saclike dilatation, particularly one in a gland; see also alveolus.
liver acinus the smallest functional unit of the liver, a mass of liver parenchyma that is supplied by terminal branches of the portal vein and hepatic artery and drained by a terminal branch of the bile duct. 
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Liver acinus: hepatic lobules are represented by hexagons (solid lines); liver acinus is represented by rhombus (dotted line).
pancreatic acinus one of the secretory units of the exocrine pancreas, where pancreatic juice is produced.
pulmonary acinus terminal respiratory unit.
thyroid acini see under follicle.
| liver acinus n. The smallest functional unit of the liver, comprising all the liver parenchyma, composed of segments of several hepatic lobules, and having as its central axis a terminal branch of the portal vein, hepatic artery, and bile duct. |
acinus
pl. acini [L.] any of the smallest lobules of a compound gland.
liver acinus
the smallest functional unit of the liver made up of two wedge-shaped masses of liver parenchyma that are supplied by two neighboring branches of the portal vein and hepatic artery and drained by two central veins and by terminal branches of the bile duct.
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