Skin glands

Glandulae cutis

Definition

Felipe Barona Lopez

The skin glands are exocrine glands located in or associated with the skin (cutis), primarily responsible for secretion to the external body surface. They are classified into the following main types:

  • Sebaceous glands associated with hair follicles (holocrine secretion). Secrete sebum, an oily substance that lubricates skin and hair. Found throughout most of the body except certain hairless areas.

  • Sweat glands exist in two main types, eccrine glands that secrete watery sweat with limited distribution and apocrine glands, more widespread; associated with scent and thermoregulation. Sweat glands are important in thermoregulation and pheromone release in many species.

  • Mammary gland modified sweat glands located in the mamma responsible for milk secretion in females.

  • Specialized cutaneous glands, species-specific and region-specific (e.g. anal glands, tail glands, mental glands in goats). Often related to communication via scent-marking.

References

  • Dyce KM, Sack WO, Wensing CJG. Textbook of Veterinary Anatomy. 5th ed. St. Louis: Elsevier; 2017.

  • König HE, Liebich HG. Veterinary Anatomy of Domestic Mammals: Textbook and Colour Atlas. 6th ed. Stuttgart: Thieme; 2020.

  • Evans HE, de Lahunta A. Miller’s Anatomy of the Dog. 5th ed. St. Louis: Elsevier; 2020.