What are the similarities and differences between apocrine sweat glands and eccrine sweat glands?

Answer 1

The two types of sweat glands are apocrine and eccrine (merocrine) sweat glands. Eccrine sweat glands are much more common throughout the body than apocrine sweat glands, and there are high numbers of them on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. Eccrine glands have a coiled and tubular shape that have the ability to discharge sensible perspiration directly onto the skin surface. Apocrine sweat glands are less common on the body, only found in the armpits, groin, and around the nipples. Apocrine sweat is a sticky, cloudy, and smelly secretion; unlike eccrine secretions which are more clear and odorless. The reason for this is that eccrine sweat contains mostly just water and salt, while apocrine sweat also contains organics. Bacteria love the dark, moist, and warmed places as well as the organics in the apocrine sweat. This is why apocrine sweat smells, while eccrine sweat is normally odorless. Apocrine sweat glands are controlled by hormones and are only turned on after puberty; merocrine sweat glands are controlled by the autonomic nervous system and also have regional control. This is why you have the ability to get sweaty palms when your nervous, and not have your entire body sweat.

Answer 2

Eccrine and apocrine sweat glands are both referred to as sudoriferous glands. The eccrine glands are found all over the body and function throughout your life. Apocrine glands develop during puberty and are most active throughout adulthood and are located in the armpits, areolar, genital, and anal areas. They are also the ones responsible for what we refer to as body odor. It is not the sweat that actually has to odor, but the bacteria that it attracts excretes its wastes as it digests the sweat. It is the bacteria's waste products that actually have the odor. So, you could say, you do not have body odor. Instead, you have bacteria odor.

Answer 3

Both apocrine and eccrine sweat glands are involved in thermoregulation and are located throughout the body. However, apocrine sweat glands are larger and are primarily found in areas such as the armpits and groin, while eccrine sweat glands are smaller and found all over the body. Apocrine sweat glands release a thicker secretion that is odorless until it comes into contact with bacteria on the skin, while eccrine sweat glands secrete a watery sweat directly onto the skin surface.

Answer 4

he endocrine system is mainly used for making hormones(pineal and pituary glands), whereas the sweat glands excrete sweat