Islets of Langerhans

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The accumulation of cells in the center of this picture is known as an islet of Langerhans. Do not try to remember that yet, as we will come back to these endocrine structures of the pancreas at the end of the semester. Use this photomicrograph to identify acini and the basal and apical portions of the cells of the exocrine pancreas. The acini will not always appear circular in the section due to the plane of the cut. The basal (basophilic) portion of the cells are towards the outside of the acini; the apical (acidophilic) portion is towards the lumen in the center of the acini. Occasionally, you may see nuclei in the center of an acinus (apical region) - these are nuclei from other cells that we will learn about when we consider the pancreas under DIGESTIVE GLANDS.