The two main types of sweat glands are eccrine and apocrine glands. These glands differ in their structure, location, and the type of sweat they produce.
Eccrine Sweat Glands
Eccrine sweat glands are distributed widely across most of the body. They open directly onto the skin's surface. Their primary function is thermoregulation – cooling the body through evaporation of the watery sweat they produce. Mayo Clinic and ScienceDirect both confirm this widespread distribution and direct skin surface opening. The secretion mechanism involves a sodium-potassium-chloride cotransport system (as described in Physiology of sweat gland function).
Apocrine Sweat Glands
Apocrine sweat glands, in contrast, open into hair follicles. They are primarily located in the armpits and groin areas. Their secretions are thicker and contain more organic substances, contributing to body odor. Harvard Health highlights their role in body odor and location. The National Library of Medicine also confirms the difference in their opening mechanism and location.
Summary Table
| Feature | Eccrine Glands | Apocrine Glands |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Widespread across the body | Armpits, groin |
| Opening | Directly onto skin surface | Into hair follicles |
| Secretion | Watery, primarily for thermoregulation | Thicker, contributes to body odor |
| Function | Thermoregulation | Odor production, pheromones (potential) |
