Merocrine is a term used to classify exocrine gland

Exocrine gland

Exocrine glands are a type of ductal glands that secrete their products into ducts that lead directly into the external environment...

s and their secretions in the study of histology

Histology

Histology is the study of the microscopic anatomy of cells and tissues of plants and animals. It is performed by examining cells and tissues commonly by sectioning and staining; followed by examination under a light microscope or electron microscope...

. A cell is classified as merocrine if the secretions of that cell are excreted via exocytosis

Exocytosis

Exocytosis , also known as 'The peni-cytosis', is the durable process by which a cell directs the contents of secretory vesicles out of the cell membrane...

 from secretory cells into an epithelial-walled

Epithelium

Epithelium is one of the four basic types of animal tissue, along with connective tissue, muscle tissue and nervous tissue. Epithelial tissues line the cavities and surfaces of structures throughout the body, and also form many glands. Functions of epithelial cells include secretion, selective...

 duct or ducts and thence onto a bodily surface or into the lumen

Lumen (anatomy)

A lumen in biology is the inside space of a tubular structure, such as an artery or intestine...

.

Merocrine is the most common manner of secretion. The gland releases its product and no part of the gland is lost or damaged (compare holocrine

Holocrine

Holocrine is a term used to classify the mode of secretion in exocrine glands in the study of histology. Holocrine secretions are produced in the cytoplasm of the cell and released by the rupture of the plasma membrane, which destroys the cell and results in the secretion of the product into the...

 and apocrine

Apocrine

Apocrine is a term used to classify exocrine glands in the study of histology. Cells which are classified as apocrine bud their secretions off through the plasma membrane producing membrane-bound vesicles in the lumen. This method is also called decapitation secretion...

).

The term eccrine is specifically used to designate merocrine secretions from sweat glands (eccrine sweat glands

Eccrine sweat glands

Eccrine glands are the major sweat glands of the human body, found in virtually all skin.. They produce a clear, odorless substance, consisting primarily of water and NaCl . NaCl is reabsorbed in the duct to reduce salt loss...

).

Examples

• Salivary glands
• Pancreatic glands
  Exocrine pancreas
  The exocrine pancreas has ducts that are arranged in clusters called acini . Pancreatic secretions are secreted into the lumen of the acinus, and then accumulate in intralobular ducts that drain to the main pancreatic duct, which drains directly into the duodenum.Control of the exocrine function of...
  
  
• Certain sweat gland
  Sweat gland
  Sweat glands, or sudoriferous glands, are small tubular structures of the skin that produce sweat. There are two kinds of sweat glands:...
  
  s ( eccrine and apocrine)

External links

• Diagram at uwa.edu.au