Standardize tissue type, magnification, focus plane, lighting, gland integrity, and sample position before comparing heads.
Visual lesson 06
Secretory disk & storage cavity
Zoom into interconnected secretory disk cells and the expanding cuticle to see how specialized metabolites are produced by secretory tissues and accumulate in the extracellular subcuticular storage cavity.
Gland-head anatomy
Interactive concept mapSecretory disk cells feed a subcuticular storage space
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Secretory disk
Specialized cells in the gland head synthesize and secrete compounds into the apical region of the trichome.
A trichome head is an anatomical secretory structure, not a standalone maturity meter. Sampling and optical conditions still matter.
Knowledge check
PracticeCan you explain what the visual is showing?
In a glandular cannabis trichome, where does much of the secreted resin accumulate relative to the secretory disk cells?
Track this lesson
Mark the lesson complete when you are comfortable with the visual, observations, and system context.
Evidence & further reading
Sources connected to this lesson
These references support specific biological, diagnostic, environmental, or process concepts used in this lesson. They are not a substitute for crop-specific testing or local regulatory guidance.Cannabis glandular trichome morphology, capitate-stalked and sessile forms, secretory disk cells, subcuticular storage, distribution, and specialized-metabolite biology.
Cannabis glandular-trichome cell biology, epidermal origin, secretory-disc architecture, non-photosynthetic plastids, cell walls and cuticle, extracellular storage cavity, cannabinoid synthases, and multicellular stalk development.
Cannabis glandular-trichome morphology, secretory-disc cell numbers, autofluorescence, metabolite specialization, and evidence that mature stalked floral trichomes develop from sessile-like precursor states.
Trichome sampling units, bract versus sugar-leaf context, microscopy and imaging considerations, anatomical variability, and reproducibility of trichome assessment.
Cannabis leaf morphogenesis, phyllotaxy, plant architecture, reproductive transition, inflorescence development, trichome development, and senescence across a complete life cycle.
System context