Exocrine gland
(Redirected from
Exocrine glands
)| Exocrine gland | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Details | |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | glandula exocrina |
| MeSH | D005088 |
| TH | H2.00.02.0.03014 |
| FMA | 9596 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
Exocrine glands are
gastrointestinal tract
through a series of ducts, and endocrine because they secrete other substances directly into the bloodstream. Exocrine sweat glands are part of the integumentary system; they have eccrine and apocrine types.
Classification
Structure
Exocrine glands contain a glandular portion and a duct portion, the structures of which can be used to classify the gland.[1]
- The duct portion may be branched (called compound) or unbranched (called simple).
- The glandular portion may be acinar, or may be a mix of the two (called tubuloacinar). If the glandular portion branches, then the gland is called a branched gland.
Method of secretion
Depending on how their products are secreted, exocrine glands are categorized as merocrine, apocrine, or holocrine.[1]
- Merocrine – the cells of the gland excrete their substances by exocytosis into a duct; for example, pancreatic acinar cells, eccrine sweat glands[dubious ], salivary glands, goblet cells, intestinal glands, tear glands, etc.
- Apocrine – the apical portion of the cytoplasm in the cell membrane, which contains the excretion, buds off. Examples are sweat glands of arm pits, pubic region, skin around anus, lips and nipples; mammary glands, etc.
- Holocrine – the entire cell disintegrates to excrete its substance; for example, sebaceous glands of the skin and nose, meibomian gland, zeis gland, etc.
-
Merocrine secretion -
Apocrine secretion -
Holocrine secretion
Product secreted
- Serous cells secrete proteins, often enzymes. Examples include gastric chief cells and Paneth cells
- pyloric glands
- Seromucous glands (mixed) secrete both protein and mucus. Examples include the salivary glands: although the parotid gland (saliva secretion 25%) is predominantly serous, the sublingual gland (saliva secretion 5%) mainly mucous gland, and the submandibular gland (saliva secretion 70%) is a mixed, mainly serous gland.
- Meibomian glands.
Additional images
-
Section of the human esophagus. -
Dissection of a lactating breast.
See also
- List of glands of the human body
- List of specialized glands within the human integumentary system
References
- ^ LCCN 2013036824.
