Explain how the structure of a pancreatic acinar cell is adapted for the secretion of digestive enzymes.

Pancreatic acinar cells have a highly developed rough endoplasmic reticulum, which is the site of synthesis of the large amounts of digestive enzymes that the cell must produce.

The newly‑made enzymes are then transferred to a well‑developed Golgi apparatus, where they are modified, packaged and sorted into secretory vesicles.

Numerous zymogen granules, which contain the inactive enzyme precursors, are positioned just below the apical membrane. When the cell receives a signal, the granules fuse with the membrane and release their contents into the pancreatic duct by exocytosis.

A large number of mitochondria are present to supply the ATP required for the energy‑intensive processes of protein synthesis, vesicle transport and exocytosis.