Exocrine Glands
Exocrine Glands - Related Videos
01:29
Exocrine Glands: Unicellular and Multicellular Glands
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2025
Exocrine glands are classified as unicellular and multicellular. The unicellular glands are scattered single cells, such as goblet cells, found in the mucous membranes of the small and large intestines. On the other hand, multicellular exocrine glands develop as secretory sheets, like the internal lining of the abdomen or chest. Such secretory sheets release their secretions directly into the lumen of these organs. In addition, some multicellular glands have deep-seated secretory units to...
01:08
Exocrine Glands: Methods of Secretion
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2023
Exocrine glands are those that release their secretions through ducts. Based on their mode of secretion, they can be classified into merocrine, apocrine, and holocrine. Merocrine Secretion Merocrine secretion is the most common type of exocrine secretion. The secretions are enclosed in vesicles and moved to the cell's apical surface, where the contents are released by exocytosis. For example, mucous, a watery secretion rich in the glycoprotein mucin, is a merocrine secretion. The eccrine glands...
01:13
Exocrine Glands: Types of Secretions
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2025
Exocrine glands produce and release a variety of glandular products. Exocrine glands can be classified into serous, mucous, or mixed types based on their secretory products. Serous glands produce watery secretions rich in digestive enzymes and proteins. The constituent cells of the serous gland have centrally located nuclei and eosinophilic secretory granules in the cytoplasm. The parotid gland is an example of a serous gland. It secretes saliva, which contains enzymes, such as lipases and...
04:06
Superior Lacrimal Gland Removal: A Surgical Technique to Remove the Palpebral and Orbital Parts of Superior Lacrimal Gland from Rabbit Model
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2025
This video describes the surgical procedure to remove the two parts: palpebral and orbital of the superior lacrimal gland from a rabbit to create a dry eye disease model. This rabbit model is suitable for studies of ocular surface homeostasis, pathophysiology and ocular therapeutics.
07:44
Surgical Injury to the Mouse Pancreas through Ligation of the Pancreatic Duct as a Model for Endocrine and Exocrine Reprogramming and Proliferation
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Cited by 19 •
2015
This protocol describes an injury model involving the surgical ligation of the pancreatic duct in the adult mouse pancreas, resulting in severe injury that establishes an environment that allows beta cell neogenesis and proliferation. This model can be used as a tool to study mechanisms involved in beta cell formation.
FAQs
A duct provides a controlled route for secretions from glandular cells to their intended destination. Its organization helps connect secretion with a particular epithelial surface or body cavity, allowing products such as mucus, saliva, enzymes, sweat, or sebum to support localized functions rather than being distributed indiscriminately.
Exocrine secretion can occur in three ways: cells may release their products without losing cellular material, remove part of the cell during release, or rupture completely and discharge the entire cell contents. These mechanisms differ in how much cellular structure is sacrificed, which helps explain variation in glandular secretion.
The secreted material determines the gland’s contribution to the surrounding tissue or organ. Enzymes support digestion, mucus contributes to protection and lubrication, sweat participates in temperature regulation, and sebum supports glandular activity associated with the skin. Examining the product therefore links secretory cells with their physiological role.
A useful analysis begins by identifying the secretory cells, tracing the associated duct, and determining whether the product reaches an epithelial surface or body cavity. Investigators can then relate the secretion’s composition, such as mucus or enzymes, to its function and note which cellular release mechanism is involved.
They are especially relevant when studying digestion, skin function, protection, lubrication, or temperature regulation. Their activity also provides context for disorders involving digestion, the skin, or glandular secretion. Examining these glands can therefore connect cellular organization with changes in organ function and clinically relevant symptoms.
Their structure shows how secretory cells, ducts, and epithelial destinations work together as an organized tissue system. Studying these relationships helps explain epithelial function and organ physiology, because glandular products do not act independently: their production, routing, and release connect microscopic tissue arrangement with broader body functions.