The sweat glands are located in the skin and ensure that sweat formed there is excreted through the same. They have the task of regulating the heat balance of the body. In some parts of the body there are so-called scent glands, which secrete sweat that has a typical odor. In all other places, the sweat is odorless.
What are sweat glands?
Schematic diagram showing the anatomy and structure of the sweat gland, hair bulb and sebaceous gland. Click to enlarge. Sweat glands are distributed throughout the human body in the skin. They produce mostly odorless sweat that is excreted through the skin. This is done to regulate heat in the organism. However, some sweat glands also produce sweat that is conspicuous by its typical odor. This type only forms during puberty and is often associated with the sebaceous glands. In the animal kingdom, the secreted odor also serves to mark territory or to control sexual behavior. Under certain circumstances, diseases of the sweat glands can develop, such as a lack of sweat or excessive sweating. Benign ulcers or abscesses can also form on the glands, which must be opened and/or removed by the doctor.
Anatomy and structure
Human sweat glands are divided into two groups. The so-called eccrine sweat glands are located in the dermis below the epidermis (epidermis). They are about 0.4 mm in size and are distributed over the entire body. Each gland is encased in a thick membrane. They are not connected to the body hair. The apocrine sweat glands, on the other hand, are closely associated with the hair follicles. In contrast to the eccrine glands, they are significantly larger at 3 – 5 mm and are located deeper in the skin, more precisely in the subcutaneous tissue. They are only formed in the course of puberty and are also nicknamed scent glands because they produce sweat, which is characterized by its typical scent. In total, humans possess approximately 2 – 4 million eccrine sweat glands, which occur in varying concentrations depending on the region of the body. Most glands are found on the soles of the feet, the fewest on the thighs.
Function and tasks
The eccrine sweat glands primarily serve to regulate the body’s heat. If a person spends time in a warm environment or if his body temperature rises, for example, due to physical exertion, they secrete sweat. This is excreted through the pores and thus cools the body down. Depending on how much the temperature rises, it is decided how much sweat must be produced. The sweat secreted by the eccrine glands is basically odorless. It consists of water, common salt and fatty acids as well as nitrogenous substances. For this reason, the excretion of sweat is also a minor detoxification process. Antibacterial substances and a slight acidity in sweat ensure healthy and supple skin as well as maintaining an optimal pH value. The apocrine sweat glands release not only the sweat itself, but also certain fragrances. These are decisive for individual body odor and play a not insignificant role in social and sexual behavior. They are located only in certain skin regions, such as the armpit or the genital area. The secretion of sweat occurs here not only when temperatures rise, but also due to emotional stress such as fear or excitement.
Diseases and complaints
Sweat glands rather rarely lead to serious health problems. However, they may exhibit, for example, hyper- or hypofunction. An inability to produce sweat is called anhidrosis. Here, there may be difficulties with heat regulation, which can lead to circulatory problems, among other things. Excessive sweat production (hyperhidrosis) is usually perceived as very unpleasant for the person affected. In this case, the sweat glands can be sclerosed by the doctor so that heavy sweating does not occur even at low temperatures. In some cases, the sweat or sebaceous glands can become clogged and abscesses or benign tumors (adenomas) can develop as a result. These can be opened and/or surgically removed by the physician. Although such tumors are not dangerous, they can affect the well-being of the affected person and should therefore be treated.
