LM of part of the exocrine pancreas. The exocrine part of the gland consists of closely packed spherical or pear-shaped serous acini. Several columnar to pyramidal acinar cells, with round basal nuclei, face a small central lumen in each serous acinus. Basal cytoplasm is basophilic; apical cytoplasm is more eosinophilic. Small clear centroacinar cells (CA) in acini centers help distinguish this purely serous gland from others, such as the parotid salivary gland. A small duct, in the connective tissue stroma, conveys secretions from acini to larger pancreatic ducts. 385×. H&E