| exocrine secretion |
| 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.
External links
- apocrine at eMedicine Dictionary
- 1624244281 at GPnotebook
- Diagram at uwa.edu.au
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