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Eccrine Glands Are Distributed

Eccrine glands are found throughout the skin but are most concentrated in the axilla, palms, and soles. They consist of secretory and duct segments and secrete primarily sweat to regulate body temperature under control of the hypothalamus. Millions of eccrine glands develop early in gestation and become functional at birth to secrete liters of sweat per day. In contrast, apocrine glands secrete a lipid-rich sweat associated with hair follicles and body odor, starting functioning only at puberty under sex hormone stimulation.

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58 views1 page

Eccrine Glands Are Distributed

Eccrine glands are found throughout the skin but are most concentrated in the axilla, palms, and soles. They consist of secretory and duct segments and secrete primarily sweat to regulate body temperature under control of the hypothalamus. Millions of eccrine glands develop early in gestation and become functional at birth to secrete liters of sweat per day. In contrast, apocrine glands secrete a lipid-rich sweat associated with hair follicles and body odor, starting functioning only at puberty under sex hormone stimulation.

Uploaded by

Gwenneth Brillo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Eccrine glands are distributed 

throughout skin surfaces, numbering between 2 million and 4 million per person, with the highest
concentrations in the axilla, palms of the hands, and soles of the feet. The sweat response is under hypothalamic thermoregulatory control via the
preoptic sweat area.

Eccrine glands consist of two segments: secretory and duct. The secretory segment is found in the deep dermis or in the superficial part of the
subcutaneous tissue. The duct segment is continuous with the secretory, coiling from it towards the surface of the skin.

Eccrine sweat glands occur over most of the body and open directly onto the skin's surface.

Eccrine glands form a thermoregulatory organ and secrete primarily water that contains electrolytes. We focus on the eccrine glands in this review. An individual
can secrete up to 4 l of eccrine sweat in an hour (3), cooling down body temperature as necessary.

Eccrine sweat glands help to maintain homoeostasis, primarily by stabilizing body temperature. Derived from embryonic ectoderm, millions of
eccrine glands are distributed across human skin and secrete litres of sweat per day.

Eccrine sweat glands first appear on the palms and soles during the fourth month of gestation; they become functional soon after birth. On the other
hand, apocrine sweat glands do not function until hormonal stimulation during puberty.

Apocrine glands are distributed in the axillae, anogenital region, periumbilical region, areolae, external auditory canals, and on the eyelids.

The apocrine gland consists of a secretory portion in the deep dermis or subcutis and a short duct which enters into the infundibulum of the hair
follicle, above the entry of the sebaceous duct.

Secretions and cellular detritus move most commonly through the apocrine duct into the pilosebaceous follicle in the infundibulum, but can be found opening
directly onto the epidermal surface close to the hair follicle ostia.

Apocrine glands in the skin and eyelid are sweat glands. Most apocrine glands in the skin are in the armpits, the groin, and the area around the nipples of the breast.
Apocrine glands in the skin are scent glands, and their secretions usually have an odor.

Apocrine glands produce viscous, lipid-rich sweat, which is also comprised of proteins, sugars, and ammonia [21,23]. The function of apocrine glands in many
species is generally regarded as scent glands involved in production of pheromones (body odor), although this social/sexual function is rudimentary in humans.

Apocrine sweat glands start to function at puberty under the stimulation of sex hormones. They are associated with hair follicles in the groin and axillary region. The
viscous, protein-rich product is initially odorless but may develop an odor after exposure to bacteria.

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