Apocrine

Exocrine secretion
Merocrine or eccrine – by exocytosis
Apocrine – by membrane budding (loss of cytoplasm)
Holocrine – by membrane rupture

Apocrine (/ˈæpəkrɪn/)[1] is a term used to classify the mode of secretion of exocrine glands. In apocrine secretion, secretory cells accumulate material at their apical ends, often forming blebs or "snouts", and this material then buds off from the cells, forming extracellular vesicles. The secretory cells therefore lose part of their cytoplasm in the process of secretion.

An example of true apocrine glands is the mammary glands, responsible for secreting breast milk.[2] Apocrine glands are also found in the anogenital region and axillae.[3]

Apocrine secretion is less damaging to the gland than holocrine secretion (which destroys a cell) but more damaging than merocrine secretion (exocytosis).

  • Apocrine secretion
    Apocrine secretion
  • Apocrine gland
    Apocrine gland
  • Histology of apocrine cells, H&E stain.
    Histology of apocrine cells, H&E stain.
  1. ^ "Apocrine | Meaning of Apocrine by Lexico". Lexico Dictionaries | English. Archived from the original on July 26, 2020.
  2. ^ Mescher AL, "Chapter 4. Epithelial Tissue" (Chapter). Mescher AL: Junqueira's Basic Histology: Text & Atlas, 12e: http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=6180489.
  3. ^ Murphrey, Morgan B.; Safadi, Anthony O.; Vaidya, Tanvi (August 10, 2020). Histology, Apocrine Gland. StatPearls Publishing. PMID 29489220.