exocrine glands

Definition: Exocrine glands are glands that produce and secrete substances onto an epithelial surface by way of a duct. Their function is the secretion of liquids at the surface of the skin or mucosa.

Examples of exocrine glands include sweat, salivary, mammary, ceruminous, lacrimal, sebaceous, and mucous.

Exocrine glands are one of two types of glands in the human body, the other being endocrine glands, which secrete their products directly into the bloodstream.

The liver and pancreas are both exocrine and endocrine glands; they are exocrine glands because they secrete products—bile and pancreatic juice—into the gastrointestinal tract through a series of ducts, and endocrine because they secrete other substances directly into the bloodstream.

Components

 glandular acini
 glandular ducts

Function

 exocrine secretion

Types

 tubular glands
 alveolar glands

Location

 lacrymal glands
 salivary glands
  nasal glands
 digestive glands

• gastric glands
  • antral glands

• intestinal glands
• colonic glands

 seminal glands
 prostatic glands
 uterine glands

• endometrial glands
• cervical glands

 cutaneous glands

Pathology

 glandular anomalies
 glandular malformations
 glandular anomalies
 glandular diseases
 glandular tumors

• benign glandular tumors ( adenomas )
• malignant glandular tumors ( adenocarcinomas )

See also

 glands

• endocrine glands