apocrine gland

anatomy

Also known as: apocrine sweat gland

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Last updated

June 18, 2026

Quick Summary

Apocrine glands are a type of sweat gland found in mammals, primarily in humans in the armpits and genital regions. Unlike eccrine sweat glands, which regulate body temperature by secreting water, apocrine glands continuously produce a fatty, odorless secretion into hair follicles. These glands typically become active at puberty and are stimulated by emotional stress, causing the secretion to be expelled and broken down by skin bacteria into odorous fatty acids. While their secretion pattern is unique, they are still referred to as apocrine glands due to their large secretory lumen and milky secretion. Some specialized glands, like mammary and scent glands, are believed to have evolved from modified apocrine glands.123

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human skin
Sweat glands
…directly onto the skin surface; apocrine glands usually develop in association with hair follicles and open into them.
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…directly onto the skin surface; apocrine glands usually develop in association with hair follicles and open into them.
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sweat gland
Apocrine sweat glands, which are usually associated with hair follicles, continuously secrete a fatty sweat into the gland tubule. Emotional stress causes the tubule wall to contract, expelling the fatty secretion to the skin, where local bacteria break it down into odorous fatty acids. In…
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Apocrine sweat glands, which are usually associated with hair follicles, continuously secrete a fatty sweat into the gland tubule. Emotional stress causes the tubule wall to contract, expelling the fatty secretion to the skin, where local bacteria break it down into odorous fatty acids. In…
Read More

perspiration
The apocrine sweat glands, associated with the presence of hair in human beings (as on the scalp, the armpit, and the genital region), continuously secrete a concentrated fatty sweat into the gland tube. Emotional stress stimulates contraction of the gland, expelling its contents. Skin bacteria break…
Read More
The apocrine sweat glands, associated with the presence of hair in human beings (as on the scalp, the armpit, and the genital region), continuously secrete a concentrated fatty sweat into the gland tube. Emotional stress stimulates contraction of the gland, expelling its contents. Skin bacteria break…
Read More