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Eccrine – Sweat Glands, Function and Disorders

Eccrine refers to the eccrine sweat glands, the most important glands for regulating body temperature. They are distributed across nearly all skin surfaces and secrete a watery sweat.

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Things worth knowing about "Eccrine"

Eccrine refers to the eccrine sweat glands, the most important glands for regulating body temperature. They are distributed across nearly all skin surfaces and secrete a watery sweat.

What Does Eccrine Mean?

The term eccrine refers to a specific type of sweat gland found throughout the human body. Eccrine sweat glands are the most numerous and most widely distributed glands in human skin. They play a critical role in thermoregulation -- the body´s ability to maintain a stable core temperature.

The word derives from the Greek ekkrinein, meaning "to secrete" or "to excrete." Unlike apocrine glands, which are mainly located in the underarm and groin regions, eccrine glands are distributed across nearly the entire body surface.

Structure and Distribution

The human body contains between 2 and 4 million eccrine sweat glands. They are found in particularly high densities in the following areas:

Palms of the hands and soles of the feet
Forehead and scalp
Axillae (underarms)
Back and chest

Each eccrine gland consists of a secretory coil located deep in the dermis or subcutaneous tissue, and a long duct that spirals upward to open at a sweat pore on the skin surface.

Functions of Eccrine Glands

Thermoregulation

The primary function of eccrine glands is cooling the body. During physical activity or heat exposure, they produce sweat that evaporates from the skin surface, removing excess heat. This mechanism is vital for preventing dangerous overheating (hyperthermia).

Composition of Sweat

The sweat produced by eccrine glands consists of more than 99% water. It also contains small amounts of:

Sodium chloride (table salt)
Potassium, calcium, and magnesium
Urea and lactate
Antimicrobial peptides (e.g., dermcidin)

Eccrine sweat is largely odorless. The characteristic body odor is generated by bacterial breakdown of sweat components, primarily in areas where apocrine glands are active.

Protective Function

Antimicrobial substances in eccrine sweat, such as the peptide dermcidin, contribute to the innate immune defense of the skin by inhibiting the growth of potentially harmful microorganisms.

Regulation of Eccrine Sweat Secretion

Eccrine glands are controlled by the autonomic nervous system, specifically by cholinergic sympathetic nerve fibers. This means that the neurotransmitter acetylcholine triggers gland activation. Factors that stimulate sweating include:

Elevated body or ambient temperature
Physical exercise
Emotional stress and anxiety (especially in palms and forehead)
Certain foods (e.g., capsaicin from chili peppers)

Clinical Relevance: Disorders of the Eccrine Glands

Hyperhidrosis

Hyperhidrosis is a condition in which the eccrine sweat glands produce excessive amounts of sweat beyond what is needed for thermoregulation. It can be primary (without an identifiable underlying cause) or secondary (resulting from conditions such as hyperthyroidism or diabetes). Treatment options include antiperspirants, iontophoresis, botulinum toxin injections, and in severe cases, surgical intervention.

Anhidrosis

Anhidrosis is the inability to sweat normally. It can result from nerve damage, skin disorders, or genetic conditions and poses a serious health risk due to impaired thermoregulation and risk of heatstroke.

Miliaria (Heat Rash)

Miliaria occurs when the ducts of eccrine glands become blocked by dead skin cells, causing sweat to leak into surrounding tissue. This leads to blisters and inflammation. It is common in infants and in adults exposed to hot, humid environments.

Eccrine Poroma and Tumors

Benign or, rarely, malignant tumors can arise from eccrine gland cells. The eccrine poroma is a benign tumor that typically appears on the palms or soles. Malignant variants (eccrine carcinomas) are very rare.

Eccrine vs. Apocrine: Key Differences

In clinical practice, it is important to distinguish between eccrine and apocrine glands:

Eccrine glands: Distributed all over the skin, open directly at the skin surface, produce clear watery sweat, primarily active in thermoregulation.
Apocrine glands: Found only in specific regions (axillae, groin, nipples), open into hair follicles, produce a thicker protein-rich secretion that generates body odor when broken down by bacteria.

References

Wilke, K., Martin, A., Terstegen, L. & Biel, S.S. (2007): A short history of sweat gland biology. International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 29(3), 169-179.
Sato, K., Kang, W.H., Saga, K. & Sato, K.T. (1989): Biology of sweat glands and their disorders. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 20(4), 537-563.
Schittek, B. et al. (2001): Dermcidin: a novel human antibiotic peptide secreted by sweat glands. Nature Immunology, 2(12), 1133-1137.

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