5.7 sweat and sebaceous glands

Sweat (sudoriferous) gland

A gland that produces sweat.

Eccrine sweat gland

Also called a merocrine sweat gland; produces true sweat and is especially abundant on the palms, soles, and forehead.

Apocrine sweat gland

A sweat gland confined to the axillary and anogenital areas that produces fat- and protein-rich true sweat.

Ceruminous gland

A modified apocrine gland lining the ear canal that secretes earwax, or cerumen.

Mammary gland

A modified sweat gland that secretes milk.

Sebaceous gland

An oil gland that secretes sebum.

Sebum

An oily secretion that softens and lubricates hair and skin, slows water loss, and is bactericidal.

Holocrine gland

A gland that secretes its product into a hair follicle or pore on the skin's surface.

Location of sebaceous glands

Found all over the body except the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.