exocrine

Pronunciation key ( ek′sə-krin )

ex•o•crine

n.

[exo- + Gk. krinein to separate].

1. External secretion through a duct.
2. Pertaining to secretion of a gland having a duct.

The active cells of many glands are epithelial cells. A gland is an organ specialized to secrete substances that are sent out to other parts of an organism's body. These secretions are produced from blood constituents.

Glands are divided into two types

1. Exocrine These glands have ducts or tubes to carry secretions away from the gland. They may be transported to another organ, cavity or surface. They are effective in a limited proximity near their source. Examples of such processes are digestive fluids, secretions from the sebaceous glands in the skin and tears from the lacrimal glands.
2. Endocrine These glands depend on blood flowing through the gland to carry secretions to other organs. These substances are called hormones and have specific effect on other tissue. They are called ductless glands.

References

Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing and Allied Health ©1978

The American Heritage Dictionary, Second College Edition ©1985

The Human Body in Health and Disease ©2000 Lippincott Williams and Wilkins