ANATOMY

Detailed explanation-1: -What are exocrine glands? Exocrine glands release (secrete) substances through openings (ducts) onto your body surfaces. Exocrine glands secrete sweat, tears, saliva, milk and digestive juices. A gland is a unit of cells that work together to create and secrete these substances.

Detailed explanation-2: -Examples of exocrine glands include sweat glands, lacrimal glands, salivary glands, mammary glands, and digestive glands in the stomach, pancreas, and intestines.

Detailed explanation-3: -The three mechanisms by which exocrine glands release their secretions include merocrine, apocrine, and holocrine. Merocrine glands are the most common subtype. By definition, merocrine gland secretions exit the cell via exocytosis. In this method of secretion, there is no cell damage.

Detailed explanation-4: -Exocrine glands secrete enzymes, ions, water, mucins and other substances into the digestive tract. The glands are situated within the gastrointestinal tract, in the walls of the stomach and intestines, or outside it (salivary glands, pancreas, liver, see above).

Detailed explanation-5: -The three types of exocrine glands include the apocrine, holocrine, and merocrine glands. The apocrine glands release a portion of their own cells with the substance they secrete. An example of an apocrine gland is the mammary gland, which secretes milk into the ducts of the breasts.