Anatomy Practice Exam

Which gland type is directly involved in the secretion of sweat?

1. Endocrine glands

2. Exocrine glands

3. Both endocrine and exocrine glands

4. Neither endocrine nor exocrine glands

The correct answer is: Exocrine glands

The secretion of sweat is primarily associated with exocrine glands. Exocrine glands are characterized by their ability to secrete substances through ducts to an epithelial surface, which is the case for sweat glands. These glands produce sweat, a fluid that helps regulate body temperature and provides a means for excreting waste products. Sweat glands themselves exist in different forms, such as eccrine and apocrine glands, but they all fall under the category of exocrine glands due to their ductal secretion mechanisms. In contrast, endocrine glands release hormones directly into the bloodstream without the use of ducts and are primarily involved in internal regulatory processes rather than external secretions like sweat. Thus, the involvement of sweat secretion is distinctly aligned with the function of exocrine glands.