The skin as our most functionally versatile organ is often underestimated in its importance. Among other things, it serves as a barrier between our own body and the outside world, protects us from environmental influences, serves to enhance our perception and even communication with our surroundings. In addition, it plays an important role in metabolism and the immune system, and is extremely adaptable.
To be able to guarantee all this, our skin consists of much more than just a few skin cells layered on top of each other. It can be divided into several layers under the microscope: Beginning with the epidermis on the surface, underneath is the dermis (also called dermis or corium), followed by the subcutis. The so-called skin appendages include components such as hair and its sebaceous glands and hair follicle muscles, nails and sweat glands and scent glands. Finally, the female mammary gland is also a modified skin gland.
Classification
The skin glands include all glands that are located in the outer skin (see above). Characteristic for glandular cells is their opening to the outside, through which they can secrete their secretion. The skin glands can be divided into
- Sweat and scent glands,
- Sebaceous glands
- Mammary glands
Sweat glands
Sweat glands (Glandula suderifera), lie in the dermis. They produce human sweat (sudor), which can then be released through the sweat pores and thus primarily serves to regulate the body’s heat. A subform of the sweat glands are the scent glands, which are found in some specific regions of the body and whose secretions develop an odor.
The sweat glands are about 0.4mm in diameter and are surrounded by a firm basal membrane. They are distributed throughout the dermis regardless of the position of the hairs. As already mentioned, the main task of the sweat glands is the production of sweat, which then cools down through evaporation on the skin surface, making it essential for us humans to protect ourselves from overheating.
In addition, sweat also maintains the suppleness of the skin and its slightly acidic pH value, which is important for the defense against pathogens and germs that are killed by the acidic environment. If the kidneys are no longer able to adequately perform their task of detoxifying the body, the sweat glands are even able to excrete small amounts of substances that are actually urine-absorbent, such as nitrogenous compounds and common salt, through the skin. With its two to four million sweat glands, humans have an extraordinary number compared to other land mammals.
Over the day a human being produces here, in the Central European climate, about 1⁄2 liters of sweat. However, during physical exertion, high temperatures or fever, it can even be as much as five liters. Since a lot of water is lost with sweat, it is important to ensure a sufficient supply of fluids, especially when sweat production is high. The sweat glands can be found mainly on the soles of the feet, the palms of the hands and the forehead. They are sown most sparsely on the thighs.