Sweat glands
Sweat glands are found on the entire surface of the human skin. Although they are only consciously noticed in everyday life during physical activities or in warm temperatures, they take on numerous tasks.
Definition
Humans have about 3 million sweat glands. Women generally have fewer sweat glands than men. The nose , forehead and feet are more populated than the rest of the body.
In principle, a distinction can be made between two different subtypes of sweat glands. The biggest differentiator are the tasks and functions. While the eccrine sweat glands are initially responsible for the fluid itself, the apocrine sweat glands add the inherent odor that each individual exudes.
Anatomy
When we talk about sweat glands, we are mostly talking about the eccrine sweat glands. While humans have about 2 to 4 million eccrine sweat glands, these occur in different regions with a differentiated frequency. Like hair and nails, the sweat glands are appendages of the skin .
Their diameter is about 0.4 millimeters. The single glands reach straight to the surface, coiling towards the other end. The anatomical position of the eccrine sweat gland is reminiscent of a ball of yarn. They are located in dermis, where they can be localized below the epidermis. The glands themselves are covered by a separating layer. This is the basement membrane.
The apocrine sweat glands are also known as the scent glands. In contrast to the eccrine type, they do not penetrate directly to the skin’s surface. Instead, they are in close contact with the hair follicles, through which they excrete their fluid. The sweat reaches the skin surface close to the hair shaft.
Before it goes outside, it mixes with sebum. Apocrine sweat glands are found only in the armpits, genitals, anal, and chest areas. They are located in the subcutaneous fatty tissue and begin their function at the onset of puberty , as soon as sexual maturity sets in.
Function
The main tasks of the eccrine sweat glands are to moisturize the skin and regulate body temperature. As soon as outside temperatures threaten to increase body temperature, the human organism has to ensure that the body does not overheat. In such a case, cooling is only possible through sweating.
Depending on the outside temperature, more or less sweat is released through the glands. An increase in body temperature is also possible through physical activities such as intensive sports. The sweat produced by the eccrine sweat glands is odorless. It consists of water, table salt, fatty acids and nitrogenous elements. Accordingly, sweating can also be seen as a process of detoxification.
At the same time, the substances contained ensure that the skin remains supple and healthy. People sweat an average of 0.8 liters a day. During hard physical exertion, the body can excrete about 10 liters of sweat.
Apocrine sweat glands, on the other hand, impart an odor to the liquid that is specific to the individual. While the exact function has not yet been fully clarified, it has been confirmed that the smell is closely linked to sexual behavior and the choice of partner.
In contrast to the eccrine sweat glands, the apocrine glands also produce fluid during psychological stress . The typical smell of sweat only develops when bacteria break down the liquid. Before the aporcrine glands release the substance, it is almost odorless.
Diseases
- Anhidrosis
The different sweat glands only lead to serious health problems in a few cases. The most common of these is over- or underproduction of sweat. If the body does not produce enough sweat, this is called anhidrosis. This is triggered by various factors, such as certain medications, skin diseases or genetic components.
When it comes to nerve damage, diabetes , Parkinson’s disease , and alcohol abuse come into question. In most cases, however, skin diseases are to blame for the symptoms. These can clog the pores, which means that the liquid can no longer penetrate to the outside. Anhidrosis is a health threat.
If the body is no longer able to regulate the temperature sufficiently, overheating and circulatory problems can occur. However, anhidrosis often affects only limited regions of the skin. In contrast to anhidrosis, hyperhidrosis does not cause physical problems, but often psychological ones.
In the case of hyperhidrosis, those affected sweat profusely, there is abnormal activity of the sweat glands. A distinction is made between a primary and a secondary subtype. While only the armpits, hands or feet are affected in the primary disease, all the glands produce too much fluid in secondary hyperhidrosis. The glands can also become clogged and inflamed. The formation of abscesses cannot be ruled out.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.