The glands are located under the skin or directly in the organism and are responsible for producing and excreting hormones, sweat and other substances. They regulate a wide variety of processes and are essential for health.
What are glands?
Glands are small openings distributed throughout the human body. They produce hormones, sweat or secretions, which are normally completely odorless. In addition, sweat glands can also secrete a smelly odor, which is crucial for sexual behavior. These types of glands form during puberty and regress after it ends. The glands can become diseased or already be damaged from birth. Then, for example, there is a lack of or excessive sweating. This can lead to abscesses and infections that have to be opened surgically. If the endocrine glands are damaged, serious psychological problems can occur.
Anatomy and structure
The glands on the human body can be divided into several groups. First, there are the eccrine sweat glands, which are located in the below the epidermis. They are about 0.4 mm in size and can be found all over the body. In addition, each individual gland is encased in a membrane. On the other hand, there are the apocrine sweat glands, which are closely associated with the hair follicles and are significantly larger than the eccrine glands. They are about 3-5 mm in size and are located in the sub-tissue of the skin. The apocrine glands are formed during puberty and are also called scent glands because the sweat secreted has a noticeable odor. The endocrine glands are responsible for the production of hormones. They send the hormones produced into the bloodstream via osmosis or diffusion. They are similar in structure to the eccrine glands. Lastly, there are the exocrine glands, which are also located throughout the body. Thus, the mammary gland is an exocrine gland, as are the prostate, salivary glands, and sebaceous and sweat glands. Liver and bile production are also controlled by the exocrine glands. Humans have several million glands distributed over the entire body. In some regions, there are fewer glands. For example, on the thighs and forearms. Most sweat glands are located under the armpits, in the genital area and on the soles of the feet.
Function and tasks
The glands have several functions. The eccrine glands are responsible for regulating body temperature. If the outside temperature rises, more sweat is produced to cool the body and thus the organism, if it drops, the glands close and goose bumps appear. Regardless of how much sweat the glands produce for this purpose, it is completely odorless. The eccrine glands secrete sweat, which consists of water, common salt, fatty acids and various nitrogenous substances. In addition, sweat contains antibacterial substances that maintain the pH of the skin at an optimal level. Thus, the body detoxifies itself, regulates temperature and takes care of the skin by secreting sweat. The apocrine glands are responsible for other tasks. They release certain odorants that shape individual body odor and play an important role in social and sexual behavior. Nowadays, the odor is masked by deodorants, but the transmission still takes place. Apocrine sweat glands are only found in certain parts of the body. For example, in the genital area and in the armpit. The function of the endocrine glands is the production of hormones. Thus, they control physical and mental health and well-being, are responsible for emotions and their regulation, and have various other purposes.
Diseases and ailments
The glands on the human body are extremely resistant to disease. Nevertheless, health problems can occur if there is an over- or under-function. If the production of sweat stops completely, this is also known as anhidrosis. This condition, which can be genetic or caused by injury, leads to more extensive problems. For example, there are difficulties with heat regulation, which can lead to circulatory problems. Excessive perspiration is also usually very unpleasant for those affected. It is accompanied by a noticeable body odor and leads to stress, which in turn triggers the production of sweat.However, the doctor can counteract this so-called hyperhidrosis by sclerosing the sweat glands. This prevents the excessive production of sweat even at high temperatures. In the area of hormonal glands, increased or decreased production can lead to or promote mental illness. If the thyroid glands are affected, this leads to a weakening of the entire organism.
