Lecture 4 Dr.
Rana Ayad Ghaleb Medical Biology
The Objectives
1- Distinguish endocrine from exocrine glands
2-Distinguish unicellular and multicellular glands
3- Recognize that multicellular glands are classified as either
simple (single unit) or compound (multiple, branched units.
4- What are the types of secretory products?
5- Explain the mechanisms of secretion in glands?
Epithelial Secretion/Glands
Glandular epithelial cells may synthesize, store, and secrete proteins (eg,
pancreas), lipids (eg, adrenal, sebaceous glands), or complexes of
carbohydrates and proteins (eg, salivary glands). The mammary glands
secrete all three substances. Less common are the cells of glands that
have low synthesizing activity (eg, sweat glands) and that secrete mostly
substances transferred from the blood to the lumen of the gland.
The major function in many epithelial cells is synthesis and secretion
of specialized products; organs composed primarily of such epithelia are
called glands.
Glands develop during fetal life from covering epithelia by means of cell
proliferation and invasion of the subjacent connective tissue, followed by
further differentiation.
Classification: Glands are classified into two types on the basis of the site
of secretion. Exocrine glands secrete into a duct or onto a surface.
Endocrine glands secrete into the bloodstream.
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1. Exocrine glands
a. Unicellular glands: are composed of a single cell (e.g., goblet cells in
tracheal epithelium).
b. Multicellular glands
(1) Multicellular glands are classified according to duct branching as
(a) simple glands (duct does not branch) or compound glands (duct
branches).
(b) They are further classified according to the shape of the secretory
unit as :
Simple exocrine glands
(1) Simple tubular glands have no ducts. The secretory cells are
arranged in straight tubules. This type of gland can be found in small and
large intestines.
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(2) Simple branched tubular glands do not have ducts, and their
secretory cells are split into two or more tubules. This type of gland can
be found in the stomach.
(3) Simple coiled tubular glands have a long duct, and secretory cells
are formed by coiled tubules. Sweat glands are examples of this type of
gland.
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(4) Simple acinar glands have a short, unbranched duct; the secretory
cells are arranged in acini form. The mucus-secreting glands in the
submucosa of the penile urethra are examples of this type of gland.
(5) Simple branched acinar glands have a short, unbranched duct, and
their secretory cells are formed into branched acini. The sebaceous glands
of the skin belong to this type.
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Compound exocrine glands
(1) Compound tubular glands have branched ducts. Their secretory
cells are formed into branched tubules as can be found in the Brunner
glands of the duodenum.
(2) Compound acinar glands have branched ducts, and the secretory
units are branched acini. The pancreas and mammary glands are
examples of this type of gland.
(3) Compound tubuloacinar glands have branched ducts, and the
secretory units are formed by both an acinar component and a tubular
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component
Fig. 1 Types of Exocrine Gland
The type of secretory product of exocrine glands:
A. Serous Glands: produce and secrete a non-viscous, watery fluid, such
as sweat, milk, tears, or digestive juices. This fluid carries wastes (sweat)
to the surface of the skin, nutrients (milk), to a nursing infant, or digestive
enzymes from the pancreas to the lumen of the small intestine.
B. Mucous Glands: secrete mucins, which forms mucus when mixed
with water. Found in such places as the roof of the oral cavity and the
surface of the tongue.
C. Mixed Glands (seromucous): such as the salivary glands inferior to
the oral cavity, contains both serous and mucous cells, and produce a
mixture of the two types of secretions.
Mechanisms of secretion :
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(A) Holocrine glands : Formed from cells that accumulate a product and
then the entire cell disintegrates. Thus, a holocrine secretion is a mixture
of cell fragments and the product the cell synthesized prior to its
destruction. • The ruptured dead cells are continuously replaced by other
epithelial cells undergoing mitosis. The oil-producing glands (sebaceous
glands) in the skin are an example of holocrine glands.
(B) Merocrine glands :the secretory cells release their contents by
exocytosis. They package their secretions in structures called secretory
vesicles. • The secretory vesicles travel to the apical surface of the
glandular cells, and leave the cell by exocytosis with no loss of other
cellular material. • Lacrimal(tear) glands, salivary glands, some sweat
glands, the exocrine glands of the pancreas, goblet cell , and the gastric
glands of the stomach are examples of merocrine glands.
(C) Apocrine glands: Composed of cells that accumulates their secretory
products within the apical portion of their cytoplasm. The secretion
follows as this apical portion decapitates. So, their mode of secretion is a
decapitation. The apical portion of the cytoplasm begins to pinch off into
the lumen of the gland for the secretory product to be transported to the
skin surface. Mammary glands and ceruminous glands (special types of
sweat glands) are apocrine glands.
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2. Endocrine glands may be unicellular (e.g., individual endocrine cells
in gastrointestinal and respiratory epithelia) or multicellular (e.g., adrenal
gland), and they lack a duct system. These glands that secrete their
products through the basal lamina into the blood stream and lack a duct
system. These glands often secrete hormones.
MEDICAL APPLICATION
Both benign and malignant tumors can arise from most types of
epithelial cells. Malignant tumors of epithelial origin are called
carcinomas (Gr. karkinos, cancer + oma, tumor). Malignant tumors
derived from glandular epithelial tissue are called adenocarcinomas
(Gr. adenos, gland + karkinos). Adenocarcinomas are by far the
most common tumors in adults after age 45.
