Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Relating to a type of gland: Describes exocrine glands whose secretions contain part of the cytoplasm from the secreting cell itself. These glands release their product by pinching off a portion of the cell membrane and the cellular material within it.

Usage

• The term apocrine is used specifically in biological and medical contexts to classify and describe certain glands and their secretions. It is a technical term.
• It is typically used attributively before a noun (e.g., apocrine gland, apocrine secretion).

Examples

• Adjective:
  • Apocrine sweat glands are found in specific areas like the armpits.
  • The characteristic odor is associated with bacterial breakdown of apocrine secretions.
  • As noted, mother's milk is one apocrine secretion.

Advanced Usage

• Apocrine metaplasia: A pathological change where a glandular tissue transforms to resemble apocrine gland tissue.
  • The biopsy showed areas of apocrine metaplasia.
• Apocrine carcinoma: A rare type of cancer arising from apocrine glands.
  • The dermatologist diagnosed an apocrine carcinoma.

Variants and Related Words

• Apocrinely (adverb, rare): In an apocrine manner.
• Eccrine (adjective): The contrasting type of sweat gland that produces a watery secretion without losing cellular material.
• Holocrine (adjective): A gland type where the entire secretory cell disintegrates to release its product (e.g., sebaceous glands).

Synonyms

• There are no direct common synonyms for this precise biological term. Descriptive phrases include:
  • Decapitation secretion glands (an older histological term describing the pinching-off process).

Related Phrases / Compounds

• Apocrine gland: The gland itself that produces an apocrine secretion.
• Apocrine sweating: Sweating specifically from apocrine glands.

Adjective

1. (of exocrine glands) producing a secretion in which part of the secreting cell is released with the secretion
   • mother's milk is one apocrine secretion