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.
| Alveolar gland | |
|---|---|
Section of pancreas of dog. X 250.
| |
| Identifiers | |
| TH | H2.00.02.0.03028 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
Some sources draw a clear distinction between acinar and alveolar glands, based upon the size of the lumen.[1] 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"[2] is used to describe a "compound alveolar gland" or "compound acinar gland."[3]
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[4] |
glands that start out as simple branched tubular, and branch further to terminate in alveoli | salivary glands,[5] esophagus[6] mammary glands |
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