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galpinj galpinj
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7 years ago
Hello guys,

I've been learning about exocrine and endocrine glands, and I've just got a question about the terminology. From what I understand, exocrine glands tend to have ducts, be tubular/saclike in appearance, and secrete their substances either outside or into the lumen.

I'm curious if every cell that secretes enzymes outside/into the lumen should be considered an exocrine gland? For example, would enterocytes that have moved to the villi of the small intestine be considered glands? Could a single cell be considered a gland, even though it would clearly not have a duct or be tubular?

Thank you everyone!
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Educator
7 years ago
Hi there, I think this excerpt will help explain things:

Exocrine glands are glands that produce and secrete substances onto an epithelial surface by way of a duct. Examples of exocrine glands include sweat, salivary, mammary, ceruminous, lacrimal, sebaceous, and mucous. Exocrine glands are one of two types of glands in the human body, the other being endocrine glands, which secrete their products directly into the bloodstream. The liver and pancreas are both exocrine and endocrine glands; they are exocrine glands because they secrete products—bile and pancreatic juice—into the gastrointestinal tract through a series of ducts, and endocrine because they secrete other substances directly into the bloodstream.
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