exocrine secretion view • talk • edit

Merocrine - by exocytosis

Apocrine - by membrane budding

Holocrine - by membrane rupturing

Apocrine is a term used to classify exocrine glands in the study of histology. Cells which are classified as apocrine bud their secretions off through the plasma membrane producing membrane bound vesicles in the lumen.

Examples of an apocrine gland include:

• lipid component of the lactating mammary gland.
• cerumen ("wax") of the outer ear
• goblet cells

The structures that are usually called apocrine glands actually secrete in a merocrine fashion. It is controversial whether or not humans have the apocrine sweat gland type. The best possibility in the human body would be the release of lipids in the mammary glands, but most histologists classify that as holocrine secretion.

[edit] External links

• apocrine at eMedicine Dictionary
• 1624244281 at GPnotebook
• Diagram at uwa.edu.au

This cell biology article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v • d • e

v • d • e Glands (Endocrine, Exocrine) Classification Mechanism Merocrine · Apocrine · Holocrine Shape Tubular gland · Alveolar gland Secretion Serous glands · Mucous glands · Serous demilune Ducts Interlobar duct · Interlobular duct · Intralobular duct (Striated duct, Intercalated duct) · Acinus/Lobe