| Eccrine sweat
glands
|
there are lots more eccrine glands than
apocrine glands
|
|
they are found all over the body, but there are
more on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet and
forehead
|
|
they are smaller
|
|
they release sweat from birth onwards (apocrine
glands become active only at puberty)
|
|
they produce a sweat that is free of proteins and
fatty acids.
|
Apocrine sweat glands
|
they are mostly confined
to the armpits (axilla) and the anal-genital
area
|
|
they usually feed sweat into hair follicles rather
than pores
|
|
the sweat contains proteins and fatty acids, which
make it thicker and give it a milkier or yellowish colour
- this is why underarm stains in clothing appear yellowish
|
|
the sweat has no odour, but when bacteria on the
skin and hair metabolise the proteins and fatty acids,
they produce an unpleasant odour - his is why deodorants
and anti-perspirants are applied to the underarms instead
of the whole body.
|
Sweat composition
Sweat consists of water, salts and urea, which enters the
gland from cells and capillaries.
Fun Fact
Did you know that the lining of your outer ear has modified
apocrine glands called ceruminous glands?
These modified sweat glands produce earwax.
Earwax is thought to prevent foreign material, including insects,
from entering your ears!
|
