Definition

1. Noun:
   • A small sweat gland that produces only a fluid; restricted to the human skin: An eccrine gland is a type of sweat gland found in human skin that secretes a watery fluid directly onto the skin's surface, primarily for thermoregulation.

Usage

• The term "eccrine gland" is a specific anatomical and biological term. It is used in scientific, medical, and academic contexts to describe a particular type of sweat gland.
• It is typically used as a countable noun (e.g., , ).

Examples

• Noun:
  • Eccrine glands are distributed across almost the entire surface of the human body.
  • The primary function of an eccrine gland is to help regulate body temperature through evaporation.
  • Unlike apocrine glands, eccrine glands secrete a clear, odorless fluid.

Advanced Usage

• "Eccrine" as an adjective: While "eccrine gland" is the primary term, the word "eccrine" can function as an adjective to describe things related to these glands.
  • Eccrine secretion is vital for cooling the body.
• In comparative anatomy: The term is often used to contrast with "apocrine gland," another type of sweat gland.
  • Human skin contains both eccrine and apocrine sweat glands.

Variants and Related Words

• Eccrine (adj): Of or relating to eccrine glands.
  • The eccrine system is highly developed in humans.
• Apocrine gland (n): A different type of sweat gland often associated with hair follicles and producing a thicker secretion.
• Sudoriferous gland (n): A general term for a sweat gland, which includes both eccrine and apocrine types.

Synonyms

• Merocrine gland: In some biological classifications, eccrine glands are considered a type of merocrine gland, where secretion occurs without loss of cellular material. (Note: This is a more technical synonym.)
• Watery sweat gland: A descriptive, non-technical synonym.

Antonyms

• Apocrine gland: A sweat gland with a different mode of secretion and location, often used as a direct contrast in discussions of gland types.

Noun

1. a small sweat gland that produces only a fluid; restricted to the human skin