Exocrine gland


Exocrine glands are glands that secrete substances on to an epithelial surface by way of a duct. Examples of exocrine glands increase sweat, salivary, mammary, ceruminous, lacrimal, sebaceous, prostate as living as mucous. Exocrine glands are one of two line of glands in the human body, the other being endocrine glands, which secrete their products directly into the bloodstream. The liver together with pancreas are both exocrine together with endocrine glands; they are exocrine glands because they secrete products—bile and pancreatic juice—into the gastrointestinal tract through a series of ducts, and endocrine because they secrete other substances directly into the bloodstream. Exocrine sweat glands are component of the integumentary system; they produce eccrine and apocrine types.

Additional images


Section of the human esophagus.

Dissection of a lactating breast.