acinus

Definition

One of the small grains or drupelets which make up some kinds of fruit, as the blackberry, raspberry, etc.

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from Latin acinus (“grape, grape-stone”); the histopathologic sense comes figuratively from the fancied resemblance (on microscopy) of acinic cells (acinar cells) to bunches of drupelets, berries, or grapes.

Example Sentences

• "Their smallest lobules were called acini, a term which has also been used to denote the saccular recesses in the lobules […]"