Alveolar gland

Alveolar gland
Section of pancreas of dog. X 250.
Identifiers
Code	TH H2.00.02.0.03028
Dorlands /Elsevier	g_06/12391106
TA
TH	{{#property:P1694}}
TE	{{#property:P1693}}
FMA	{{#property:P1402}}
Anatomical terminology [[[d:|edit on Wikidata]]]

If glands are categorized by shape, alveolar glands contrast with tubular glands. Alveolar glands have a saclike secretory portion, thus are also termed saccular glands. They typically have an enlarged lumen (cavity), hence the name similar to alveoli, the smallest air sacs in the lungs.

Branched alveolar glands are classified as follows:

	Type	Description	Location
120px	simple branched acinar		thyroid glands
120px	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

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".

Additional images

• 

  Alveoli of lacrimal gland.

• 

  Human submaxillary gland. At the right is a group of mucous alveoli, at the left a group of serous alveoli.

• 

  Section of portion of mamma.

See also

• Acinus