What is the Difference Between Merocrine and Holocrine Glands

Thekey differencebetween merocrine and holocrine glandsis that merocrine glands can secrete substances without damaging the cells while the secretions caused by holocrine glands destroy the cells.

A gland is an organ that produces and releases substances to perform a specific function. There are two types of glands in the body.Endocrine glandsare ductless and mainly producehormones. Exocrine glands release their products through a duct. Merocrine and holocrine glands are types of exocrine glands. Such glands produce and release substances such as sweat, saliva, tears, digestive juices and release them to a duct or to the body surface.

内容

1.Overview and Key Difference
2.什么是美分泌腺
3.什么是全分泌腺
4.Similarities – Merocrine and Holocrine Glands
5.Merocrine vs Holocrine Glands in Tabular Form
6.Summary – Merocrine vs Holocrine Glands

What are Merocrine Glands?

绿色腺是一种外分泌腺，不会释放分泌物而不会损害细胞。通过分泌细胞通过胞吐作用通过胞吐作用排泄分泌。排泄发生在围墙的上皮管中，然后进入身体表面或腔内。实际上，merocrine一词是指分泌物的产生。因此，毛分泌腺能够产生分泌物。此类腺体的一些例子是唾液腺，胰腺和eccrine腺体。

Merocrine and Holocrine Glands - Side by Side Comparison

Figure 01: Modes of Secretion by Merocrine Glands

Salivary glands secrete saliva into the oral cavity through specific ducts. Saliva gives many benefits to the oral cavity; it provides protection, buffering, pellicle formation, tissue repair, and antimicrobial action in the oral cavity. Most importantly, it also aids in taste, digestion, and speech. Pancreatic glands produce and secrete enzymes important for digestion. Eccrine glands are also known as sweat glands. They aid in thermoregulation of the body surface. Eccrine glands secrete sweat to cool the body surface in the presence of water.

什么是全分泌腺？

全分泌腺是一种外分泌腺，它们释放由分解细胞和分泌产物组成的分泌物。这种分泌是在细胞质中产生的，并通过破裂而释放质膜. Thus, holocrine glands destroy the cells, and the products are secreted into the lumen. Holocrine glands are categorized as the most damaging type of secretion. Two examples of such glands are sebaceous glands of the skin and meibomian glands of the eyelid.

Merocrine vs Holocrine Glands in Tabular Form

图02：皮脂腺

Sebaceous glands are small glands that produce oil in the skin of mammals. They are usually attached to the hair follicles on the skin. They release a fatty substance called sebum into the follicular duct and secrete it to the skin surface. These glands help in keeping the skin flexible and prevent drying by keeping the skin hydrated throughout. Meibomian glands also release an oil secretion along the edge of eyelids near the eyelashes. This oil aids in the tear film where the tears are stored, and it prevents the tears from drying.

What are the Similarities Between Merocrine and Holocrine Glands?

Both glands are secreting glands.
They are exocrine glands.
Both release substances to a duct or to the body surface.

毛分泌腺和全分泌腺有什么区别？

Merocrine glands have the ability to secrete substances without damaging the cells, while secretions caused by holocrine glands destroy the cells. Thus, this is the key difference between merocrine and holocrine glands. Moreover, most holocrine glands are associated with the external environment, while merocrine glands are associated with the internal body and external environment.

The below infographic presents the differences between merocrine and holocrine glands in tabular form for side by side comparison.

Summary – Merocrine vs Holocrine Glands

绿色腺体和全分泌腺是外分泌腺，两个腺体都具有分泌的功能。绿色腺具有分泌物质而不会造成细胞损害的能力。相反，全分泌腺在分泌物质时会破坏细胞。聚会腺体分泌酶来帮助消化和水进行体温调节。一些例子包括唾液腺，胰腺和eccrine腺体。全分泌腺分泌一种脂肪物质，例子是皮脂腺和巨腺腺。因此，这总结了毛分泌腺和全分泌腺之间的差异。

Reference:

1.“”Holocrine gland。”在线生物学。
2. “Merocrine gland – definition and examples。”Biology Online Dictionary.