Sweat glands

Sweat glands are small tubular structures of the skin that produce sweat. Sweat glands are a type of exocrine gland, which are glands that produce and secrete substances onto an epithelial surface by way of a duct. There are two main types of sweat glands that differ in their structure, function, secretory product, mechanism of excretion, anatomic distribution, and distribution across species: eccrine sweat glands and apocrine sweat glands.

Structure

Sweat glands are tubular structures found in the skin of mammals. They are long, coiled, hollow tubes of cells. The sweat gland is surrounded by fat cells and fibrous connective tissue and is located in the dermis of the skin.

Function

The primary function of sweat glands is to cool the body through evaporation. They also have minor roles in excreting wastes and in increasing friction between the skin and any grasping object.

Clinical significance

Diseases of the sweat glands include hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), anhidrosis (reduced or absent sweating), and miliaria (sweat rash).

See also

• Sweat duct
• Sweating
• Thermoregulation

External links

• Britannica: Sweat Gland