eccrine gland

noun

variants or eccrine sweat gland

: any of the rather small sweat glands that discharge an odorless watery fluid onto the surface of the skin, play an important role in thermoregulation, and are widely distributed across the body with the most dense concentrations on the palms, soles, and forehead compare apocrine gland

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Most researchers agree with the premise that fur-loss and eccrine gland-gain coevolved for thermoregulation during human evolution. —

Bridget Alex, Discover Magazine, 17 Jan. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'eccrine gland.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1927, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of eccrine gland was circa 1927

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Eccrine gland.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eccrine%20gland. Accessed 26 Mar. 2023.

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Medical Definition

eccrine gland

noun

: any of the rather small sweat glands that produce a fluid secretion without removing cytoplasm from the secreting cells and that are restricted to the human skin

called also eccrine sweat gland