Eccrine sweat glands 

(/ˈɛkrən, -ˌkraɪn, -ˌkriːn/; from ekkrinein "secrete";[3] sometimes
called merocrine glands) are the major sweat glands of the human body,[4] found in virtually
all skin, with the highest density in palm and soles, then on the head, but much less on the
torso and the extremities. In other mammals, they are relatively sparse, being found mainly
on hairless areas such as foot pads. They reach their peak of development in humans,
where they may number 200–400/cm² of skin surface.[5][6] They produce a clear, odorless
substance, sweat, consisting primarily of water. These are present from birth. Their secretory
part is present deep inside the dermis.
Eccrine glands are composed of an intraepidermal spiral duct, the "acrosyringium"; a dermal
duct, consisting of a straight and coiled portion; and a secretory tubule, coiled deep in
the dermis or hypodermis.[7] The eccrine gland opens out through the sweat pore. The coiled
portion is formed by two concentric layer of columnar or cuboidal epithelial cells.[8] The
epithelial cells are interposed by the myoepithelial cells. Myoepithelial cells support the
secretory epithelial cells. The duct of eccrine gland is formed by two layers of cuboidal
epithelial cells.[9]
Eccrine glands are active in thermoregulation by providing cooling from water evaporation of
sweat secreted by the glands on the body surface and emotional induced sweating (anxiety,
fear, stress, and pain).[6][7] The white sediment in otherwise colorless eccrine secretions is
caused by evaporation that increases the concentration of salts.
The odour from sweat is due to bacterial activity on the secretions of the apocrine sweat
glands, a distinctly different type of sweat gland found in human skin.
Eccrine glands are innervated by the sympathetic nervous system, primarily
by cholinergic fibers whose discharge is altered primarily by changes in deep body
temperature (core temperature), but by adrenergic fibers as well.[10] The glands on palms and
soles do not respond to temperature but secrete at times of emotional stress.

Secretion[edit]
The secretion of eccrine glands is a sterile, dilute electrolyte solution with primary
components of bicarbonate, potassium, and sodium chloride (NaCl),[6] and other minor
components such as glucose, pyruvate, lactate, cytokines, immunoglobulins, antimicrobial
peptides (e.g., dermcidin), and many others.[6]
Relative to the plasma and extracellular fluid, the concentration of Na+ ions is much lower in
sweat (~40 mM in sweat versus ~150 mM in plasma and extracellular fluid). Initially, within
the eccrine glands, sweat has a high concentration of Na+ ions. The Na+ ions are re-absorbed
into the tissue via the epithelial sodium channels (ENaC) that are located on the apical
membrane of the cells that form the eccrine gland ducts (see Fig. 9 and Fig. 10 of the
reference).[9] This re-uptake of Na+ ions reduces the loss of Na+ during the process of
perspiration. Patients with the systemic pseudohypoaldosteronism syndrome who carry
mutations in the ENaC subunit genes have salty sweat as they cannot reabsorb the salt in
sweat.[11][12] In these patients, Na+ ion concentrations can greatly increase (up to 180 mmol/L).
 
[11] [13]

In people who have hyperhidrosis, the sweat glands (eccrine glands in particular) overreact

to stimuli and are just generally overactive, producing more sweat than normal.
Similarly, cystic fibrosis patients also produce salty sweat. But in these cases, the problem is
in the CFTR chloride transporter that is also located on the apical membrane of eccrine
gland ducts.[9]
Dermicidin is a newly isolated antimicrobial peptide produced by the eccrine sweat glands.[14]
References[edit]
1. ^ Jump up to:a b Neas, John F. "Development of the Integumentary System". In
Martini, Frederic H.; Timmons, Michael J.; Tallitsch, Bob (eds.). Embryology Atlas  (4th ed.).
Benjamin Cumings.
2. ^ Krstic, Radivoj V. (18 March 2004). Human Microscopic Anatomy: An Atlas for
Students of Medicine and Biology. Springer. p.  464. ISBN 9783540536666.

Merocrine
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigationJump to search
Exocrine secretion 

 view
 talk
 edit
Merocrine or eccrine – by exocytosis
Apocrine – by membrane budding (loss of cytoplasm)
Holocrine – by membrane rupture

Merocrine secretion

Merocrine (or eccrine) is a term used to classify exocrine glands and their

secretions in the study of histology. A cell is classified as merocrine if the
secretions of that cell are excreted via exocytosis from secretory cells into
an epithelial-walled duct or ducts and then onto a bodily surface or into
the lumen.
Merocrine is the most common manner of secretion. The gland releases its
product and no part of the gland is lost or damaged
(compare holocrine and apocrine).
The term eccrine is specifically used to designate merocrine secretions
from sweat glands (eccrine sweat glands),[1] although the term merocrine is often
used interchangeably.[2][3]
 Examples[edit]
 Salivary glands
 Pancreatic glands
 Certain sweat glands

References[edit]
1. ^ Eccrine and Apocrine Glands Archived 2009-04-05 at
the Wayback Machine Donald J. Baker, M.D., and Warren R.
Heymann, M.D. American Academy of Dermatology. Retrieved
on April 18, 2010
2. ^ Melo, Angel I.; González-Mariscal, Gabriela (2010-01-01),
Litwack, Gerald (ed.),  "Chapter Fifteen - Communication by
Olfactory Signals in Rabbits: Its Role in Reproduction",  Vitamins
& Hormones, Pheromones, Academic Press,  83, pp.  351–
371,  doi:10.1016/s0083-6729(10)83015-8, retrieved  2020-10-23
3. ^ Lombardini, Eric D.; Pacheco-Thompson, Michelle E.;
Melanson, Mark A. (2013-01-01), Haschek, Wanda M.;
Rousseaux, Colin G.; Wallig, Matthew A. (eds.), "Chapter 44 -
Radiation and Other Physical Agents",  Haschek and
Rousseaux's Handbook of Toxicologic Pathology (Third Edition),
Boston: Academic Press, pp.  1421–1503, doi:10.1016/b978-0-
12-415759-0.00044-3, ISBN 978-0-12-415759-0,
retrieved 2020-10-23

External links[edit]
 Diagram at uwa.edu.au

hide
 v
 t

 e
Epithelial tissue

Squamous 

Cells Cuboidal 

Columnar

Types Simple squamous epithelium 

Endothelium

Mesothelium

Simple cuboidal epithelium

Simple columnar epithelium

 Pseudostratified columnar epithelium 
Respiratory epithelium

Stratified squamous epithelium

Stratified cuboidal epithelium

Stratified columnar epithelium

Transitional epithelium 
Urothelium

Merocrine 
Eccrine

Apocrine
Mechanism
Holocrine 
Sebaceous
Types Meibomian

Tubular gland
Shape
Alveolar gland

Glands Serous glands

Secretion
Mucous glands

Myoepithelial cell

Serous demilune

Ducts 

Components Intralobular

Striated 

Intercalated 

Acinus/Lobe

Categories: 
 Exocrine system
Navigation menu
 Not logged in
 Talk
 Contributions
 Create account
 Log in
 Article
 Talk
 Read
 Edit
 View history
Search
Search Go

 Main page
 Contents
 Current events
 Random article
 About Wikipedia
 Contact us
 Donate
Contribute
 Help
 Learn to edit
 Community portal
 Recent changes
 Upload file
Tools
 What links here
 Related changes
 Special pages
 Permanent link
 Page information
 Cite this page
 Wikidata item
Print/export
 Download as PDF
 Printable version
Languages
 ‫العربية‬
 Italiano
 Polski
 Português
 Српски / srpski
 ‫اردو‬
Edit links
 This page was last edited on 23 October 2020, at 08:13 (UTC).
 Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply.
By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of
the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.