SKIN 07A

This is a higher magnification micrograph of the region around "4" in SKIN 07. It shows the distended secretory portions ("S") and compact ducts ("D") of an "apocrine" sweat gland. The secretory portions are obviously distended by the oily, lipid-rich, secretions of these glands. In contrast to the more common (i.e. more numerous) eccrine sweat glands, which release a watery product in a merocrine fashion, these glands have numerous lipid rich aggregates in their apical cytoplasm. It has long been assumed that such droplets are released in an apocrine fashion, but the exact mechanism by which these glands release their products is not yet agreed upon by all who study them.

Slide M-7, field Q40 of finder slide B, 16X objective