ANATOMY AND

PHYSIOLOGY OF
SWEAT GLAND

Dr UJJWALA VERMA
1st yr Junior Resident
Dept. of Skin and V.D.

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 Sweating is perhaps one the most visible
physiological events we experience in our
daily lives.

 It is only humans & apes who sweat.

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 TYPES OF SWEAT GLANDS
 Three structurally & functionally distinguishable
types of sweat glands exist in human skin:
the eccrine ,
apocrine , &
apoeccrine glands.

Eccrine glands are merocrine ,in that no breakdown

of cellular materials occurs during secretion &the
secretion is discharged by the fusion of the
membranous walls of the secretory vesicles with
the plasma membrane so that only the contents
of the vesicles are released.
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 In apocrine glands, during secretion a small
amount of cytoplasm is “pinched off” along
with the secretory vesicles.
 Eccrine glands are called atrichial since they
develop from the superficial epidermis &
remain independent of the hair follicle.
 Apoccrine gland are called epitrichial
,because they develop from the external root
sheath of the hair follicle & usually remain
attached to it.
 Eccrine gland produce eccrine sweat which
are primarily involved in thermoregulation.

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 Apoeccrine gland or mixed glands have some
of the morphological & functional features of
both eccrine and apocrine glands and are
found in adult human axilla &contribute to
overall axillary sweating in the adult.

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 ECCRINE SWEAT GLANDS
 Density & distribution:
~Present almost everywhere on the human
skin including glans penis & the foreskin.
~ Absent on the –vermillion border of the lips
-nail bed
- ext. ear canal
-clitoris,and
-labia minora.
~

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~their avg. density varies from
64 glands/cm2 on the back
108 /cm2 ----- forearm
181/cm2 ----- forehead
600-700/cm2 ----- palms and soles
~ There are estimated 1.6-4 million sweat gland on
the body surface.
~each sweat gland weigh about 30-40 mcgm
~aggregate wt in human skin = 100 gm
~Sweat gland density also varies with body size ,& in
general, males perspire more profusely than
females & prepubertal children.
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Development:
~Embryologically , eccrine sweat glands develop
as specialised downgrowths of the epidermis at
about the 4th month of intrauterine life of the
volar surfaces of the hands & feet & in the 5th
gestational month in axillae,and a little later
over the other parts of body.
~ by about eighth fetal month they resemble adult
sweat glands,
~but are not functional until 2 yr of age.
~no new sweat glands are formed after birth.

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 Structure:
~simple tubular epithelial structures.
~Eccrine sweat glands possess-
1. Basal coiled portion called fundus or
acinus,situated in the lower third of the dermis
or at dermo hypodermal interface;
2. A straight intradermal ductal portion
3. A spiral intraepidermal duct (acrosyringium)
that opens directly on to the surface.
The whole length of secretory gland is surrounded
by a thin fibrous sheath and an investing basal
lamina.

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Secretory coils:-
-60-80micro m in diameter
-2-5 mm in length .
-single layered str , made up of three distinct cell
types
:large clear cells (secretory)
: small dark cell (mucoid)
:myoepithelial cells

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 Clear cells are the cells pricipally responsible for
sweat secretion.
 Pyramidal shape
 Bases resting partly on the basal lamina or on the
myoepithelial cells
 The cells infrequently reaches the lumen .
 Instead they face one or more small intercellular
canaliculi that are confluent with the lumen.
 The cytoplasm are also rich in glycogen granules
& mitochondria.
 The basal infoldings of the clear cells show
marked Na,K-ATPase activity & the basolateral
membrane is believed to be the sodium pump
site & the site for active transport of ions during
sweat secretion.
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 Dark cells occur either as cuboidal cells that
rest on the clear cells or as inverted
pyramidal cells with their wedge shaped
cytoplasmic process extending towards the
BM between clear cells
 Dark cells occupy almost all the luminal
surface of the secretory tubules .
 PAS positive glycoprotiens ,the constituents
of the human sweat ,are probably secreted
by the dark cells.

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 Myoepithelial cells are discontinuous row of
spindle shaped cells.
 These cells are filled with masses of
myofilaments
 Arranged more or less parallel to the course
of the secretory tubules .
 Not only provide mechanical support to the
secretory coil wall against an Increase in in
luminal hydrostatic pressure during sweat
secretion .
 Also help propel the sweat towards the
surface.
 Myoepithelial cells respond to cholinergic but
not to adrenergic stimuli.
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 Peripheral to myoepithelial cells lies a
hyaline basement membrane zone containing
collagen fibres that separate the glandular
epithelium from the richly vascular
connective tissue of the periadenexal
dermis.

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Intradermal sweat duct:
 The dermal ductal portion of the eccrine sweat gland
is composed of two layer of cell :
- an inner ring of luminal cells , and
-an outer ring of basal cells.
 The cells are small,cuboidal , and are deeply
basophilic.
 The basal ductal cells are rich in mitochondria & the
entire circumference of the cell membrane shows a
strong Na-K-Atpase activity suggesting that the cells
play a critical role in ductal sodium reabsorption.
 A dense layer of the tonofilament near the luminal
membrane (pseudocuticle) gives a certain rigidity to
the periluminal region & assures patency.
 The proximal (coiled) intradermal duct appears to be
functionally more active than the distal
(straight)portion.
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Acrosyringium:
 the intaepidermal sweat duct runs spirally from
the base of the rete ridge to the surface.
 Consist of the single layer of inner or luminal
cells & two or three rows of outer or basal cells.
 Acrosyringeal cells contain desmosomes and
occasionally melanocytes & cornify
independently of the epidermis.
 Prior to keratinisation , acrosyrigeal lumen is
lined by an eosinophilic cuticle.

Sweat duct is not an inert conducting channel. It

has enzyme systems, a liberal blood supply ,and
plays a critical role in the formation of final
sweat
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FUNCTION:
 The principal function of eccrine glands is to
produce sweat during periods of heat stress.
 Each sweat gland during peak secretory
activity may produce as much as 20nL per min.
 One lit. of evaporated sweat removes 585
kilocalories of heat from the body.
 During heat stress, a max. sweat rate of 3-
4l/hr can attached ,and a rate of 1-1.5 L/hr
can be maintained.
 The other major function is to moisten the
skin of the palms & soles during periods of
activity, thus improving their grip.

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 Eccrine glands are also lesser organs of
excretion and several substances are
excreted in sweat
 The presence of interleukins & proteolytics
enzymes raises the possibilities that eccrine
sweat can be potentially pro-inflammatory &
is capable of modifying various dermatoses.
 Eccrine sweat may also have mitogenic
effects on ds such as psoriasis.
 Lactate in sweat may regulate desquamation
of stratum corneum.

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THE PHYSIOLOGY OF SWEATING
Types of sweating
sweat gland activity is controlled by three
principle physiological stimuli:
>thermal
>emotional
>gustatory.
 Thermoregulatory sweating –believed to be
controlled by thermo-sensitive neurons in the
hypothalamus.
It mostly affects the upper trunk &
face but may also involve the whole body.

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 Emotional stimuli-produces sweating on palms &
soles.
sensory stimuli arising from frontal or premotor
areas (Brodman area 6)are involved.
 Gustatory stimuli-induces sweating on the lips
forehead & nose.
controlled by medullary nuclei.
 Other factors:that may modify the quality &quantity
of sweat in presence of an intact nerve nerve supply
include-
-local temperature changes
-periglandular vascular activity,
-axon & spinal reflexes,
-plasma electrolyte concentration
-harmones (Androgens)

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 The Sympathetic Sudomotor Pathway.

 Eccrine sweating is the result of sympathetic

activity .
 The overall chain of sympathetic command
involves
-central autonomic network ,
-preganlionic effector pathways,
-post ganglionic sympathetic fibres,
-periglandular neurotransmitters,and
-glandular receptors.
the most imp component of this network is the
nucleus tractus solitarius located in the
dorsomedial region of medulla oblongata.

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 Mechanism of sweat secretion
Stimulation of sympathetic neuronal outflow result in
release of periglandular neurutransmitters ,chiefly
acetylcholine (Ach).Ach interacts with a special
receptor in the secretory cell membrane , triggering
a sequence of event leading to sweat secretion.
The formation of sweat within the eccrine sweat
gland is a two step process and consist of
1. Elaboration of nearly isotonic , primary or
precursor sweat from the interstitial fluid by the
secretory coil through active transportation of
electrolytes;
2. Modification of the primary sweat through partial
reabsorption of NaCl by the sweat duct to produce
the ultimate secretory product ,the hypotonic
eccrine sweat.

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 Effect of aging on eccrine sweat
glandular structure & function
• There is either a reduction in absolute
number of eccrine sweat glands or
in their functional capacity or
both
• Microscopically, there is disarray &shrinkage
of secretory cells & the lumen
• Lipofuscin granules within the secretory cells
increases both in no. & size with the age
• The sweating response to dry heat is
decrease in elderly individuals ,making them
prone to heat stress.

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Composition of sweat:
 Similar in composition to plasma containing
the same electrolytes, although in more
dilute conc.
 The sweat rate also influences the
composition of the final secretory product
because ductal modification of primary
sweat is often a function of the flow rate.
 Eccrine sweat is an odorless, colorless,
hypotonic solution with sp. gr. Of 1.005

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 Constituents:-
Na
K
Cl
urea
lactate
glucose
ammonia
amino acid
protiens(glycoprotiens&
mucopolysaccharides)

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Proteolytic enzymes.
-Glandular kallikrein
-Kininase
-C1 esterase
-urokinase
- cysteine protienase
-& their endogenous inhibitors
Epidermal growth factor

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 SWEAT FUNCTION TESTS
 To test sympathetic axonal integrity
 local pharmacological sweat test

- intradermal inj, or
- iontophoretic application of 0.01%
pilocarpine or methacholine
 QSART(quantitative Sudomotor Axon Reflux
Testing)
 Galvanic skin resistance test
 Visualization of individual sweat droplet

-Iodine starch method

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 Determination of maximal sweat rate:
-water vapour analyzer
-the filter paper method.
-collection of sweat droplet under mineral
oil
-anaerobic bag method.
 Skin biopsy
for absence or atrophy of sweat gland (in
ds. As anhidrotic ectodermal
dysplasia,scleroderma)

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 APOCRINE GLAND

Development
 Apocrine glands together with hair and
sebaceous glands ,develop from the primary
epithelial germs or hair germs during the 4th to
5th month of intrauterine life.
 Apocrine gland development is dependent on sex
hormones and not their functional activity.

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Distribution:
-axillae
-areolae (montgomery’s tubercles)
-periumbilical,
-perineal
-cicumoral areas
-prepuce,
-mons pubis
-labia minora
Modified apocrine glands
-ceruminous glands in ext ear canal
-the ciliary or Moll’s glands on the eyelids
-mammary glands
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Occasionally ,can be found on the
-face
scalp
abdomen(heterotopic)

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Structure:
 Larger than eccrine glands.
 Contains - secretory
- ductal portion.

The coiled secretory portion is situated in the lower

dermis or in subcutaneous fat,& a straight excretory
duct empties into the infundibulum of the hair
follicle slightly above the entrance of the sebaceous
duct.
Apocrine ducts ocassionally opens directly on the
surface independently of the hair follicles.

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Secretory coil:
 Simple convulated tubular str.
 As wide as 2 mm
 Lumen is lined by single layer of secretory cells
which are either cuboidal or columnar depending
upon stage of secretion.
 Secretory cells possess an eosinophilic
cytoplasm&, except in the apical portion ,
contains large PAS +ve & Diastase-resistance
granules distributed around the nucleus.
 Surrounding the secretory cell is a layer of
contractile myoepithelial cells.

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Ductal portion:
• Apocrine sweat duct is made up of a double layer
of basophilic cuboidal cells & an inner
myoepithelial cells.
• Distally,the epithelial of apocrine duct merge
into the epithelium of the infundibular portion of
the hair follicle.
• The apocrine duct is straight & not spiral.
Apocrine secretion:
 Human apocrine sweat is a protien rich
,milky, or viscid ,colourless secretion
when it is first formed.
 Bacterial decomposition responsible for
the characteristic mephitic odor.
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Mechanism of apocrine sweat secretion

 Secretion is of apocrine type

 Merocrine & holocrine type secretion also occur
 In classical apocrine type of secretion an apical
cap & a dividing membrane are formed initially.
the apical cap is then detached & discharged
into the lumen of the gland by a process called
“apocapation”.
 Although ,apocrine sweat formation is a
continuous process ,the secretion is discharged
on to the surface only intermitentaly.

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Control of apocrine glandular activity

 Apocrine gland respond to emotional

stimuli that promote sympathetic
discharge.
 Denervation or atropine do not abolish
apocrine glandular response to emotional
stimuli ,suggesting that apocrine
glandsare stimulated humorally by
circulating catecholamines.

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Humoral influences and apocrine
glandular activity
• Gonadectomy of mature individual does not
affect apocrine glandular function.
• There is shrinkage of apocrine glands after
menopause.
• Apocrine gland possess a marked 5 –alpha
reductase activity.
Effects of aging:
o With aging ,apocrine glands tends to accumulate
lipofuscin &undergo attenuation .
o That is why there is often a reduced body odor in
the aged.

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Function of apocrine glands:
 Human apocrine glands , especially the glands in
the axillae,are highly specialised functional units
and are concerned with human behavioural &
sexual interaction.

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 APOECCRINE GLANDS

 Also called mixed gland.

 Found in adult human axillae.
 Represent <10% of all glands in human axilla.
 Found in all level of the dermis and their size may
be quite variable .
 Larger than eccrine glands and smaller than
apoccrine glands.
 Axillary skin of black contains more glands.
 The apocrine secretory portion is often irregularly
dilated.
 The apocrine glands has a long duct that opens
directly on to the skin surface.
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 Apocrine glands are not present at birth.
 They develop during puberty from the
eccrine glands or eccrine like precursor
glands.
 Yeilds copious sweat in response to both
methacholine(cholinergic) and
epinephrine(adrenergic).
 Apoeccrine glands basically eccrine glands
that underwent “apoeccrinization’due to
local factors.

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