Exocrine gland

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Exocrine gland refers to glands that secrete their products via a duct. This is as opposed to endocrine glands that release their products directly into the circulatory system via the capillary network. Typical exocrine glands include sweat glands, salivary glands, mammary glands and many glands of the digestive system.

Types

Exocrine glands are named apocrine, holocrine, or merocrine based on how their product is secreted. In addition, people with cystic fibrosis usually have affected glands.

Apocrine glands - a portion of the secreting cell's body is lost during secretion. Apocrine gland is often used to refer to the apocrine sweat glands.
Holocrine glands - the entire cell disintegrates to secrete its substances.
Merocrine glands - cells secrete their substances by exocytosis.

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