apocrine

adjective

apo·​crine ˈa-pə-krən  -ˌkrīn  -ˌkrēn 

: producing a fluid secretion by pinching off one end of the secretory cell while leaving the rest intact

also : produced by an apocrine gland

Examples of apocrine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In fact, there are actually two different kinds of sweat glands in the body – eccrine sweat glands and apocrine sweat glands. —Alexis Benveniste, Allure, 26 Sep. 2023

The ones all over its body where its fur grows are called apocrine sweat glands, and we humans also have them in our armpits and other hairy zones. —Bill Gifford, Men's Health, 12 June 2023

Remember those apocrine glands that release oily secretions? —Bridget Alex, Discover Magazine, 13 Aug. 2019

But the glands found in the armpits and genital area are different: apocrine glands excrete a thicker fluid that — upon contact with bacteria found on the skin — results in body odor. —Dianna Mazzone, Allure, 17 June 2022

In addition to sweat, apocrine glands release substances like fat and proteins that can lead to body odor when sweat mixes with the normal bacteria found on the skin. —Jessica Toscano, SELF, 7 June 2022

Your apocrine glands are located where bad body odor is common, such as the armpits or groin. —Grooming Playbook, The Salt Lake Tribune, 25 May 2022

While surgery can be an option at any stage on an individual lesion if the pain is major enough, wide surgical removal of an affected area and apocrine glands is most common in Hurley stage III. —Sara Gaynes Levy, SELF, 17 Feb. 2022

So Cruz, given his background as a Harvard Law graduate and fearsome Texas solicitor general, could have defended his position without activating his apocrine glands. —Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2022

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from German apokrin, from apo- apo- + -krin, as in merokrin merocrine

Note: The term was introduced, along with ekkrin eccrine by the German biologist P. Schiefferdecker in "Die Hautdrüsen des Menschen und der Säugetiere, ihre biologische und rassenanatomische Bedeutung sowie die Muscularis sexualis," Biologisches Zentralblatt, Band 37 (1917), p. 534.

First Known Use

1926, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing apocrine

• apocrine gland

Medical Definition

apocrine

adjective

apo·​crine ˈap-ə-krən  -ˌkrīn  -ˌkrēn 

: producing a fluid secretion by pinching off one end of the secreting cells which then reform and repeat the process

apocrine glands

also : produced by an apocrine gland compare eccrine, holocrine, merocrine