Plural of acinus; small sac-like or berry-like structures, especially the tiny chambers of glands that secrete fluids.
From Latin 'acinus' (berry or grape seed). In anatomy, this term describes the microscopic functional units of glands, named for their resemblance to grapes clustered on a vine.
Your salivary glands have acini that look exactly like tiny grape clusters under a microscope—it's why ancient Romans named them after grapes, and why doctors still use this 2,000-year-old fruit comparison!
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