Page 488 - Atlas of Histology with Functional Correlations

FIGURE 12.11 | Cross Section and Three-

Dimensional Appearance of Eccrine Sweat Gland

The eccrine sweat gland is a simple, coiled tubular gland that extends deep into
the dermis or the upper hypodermis. To illustrate this, the sweat gland is shown

in both cross-sectional (left side) and three-dimensional views (right side) as it
makes its way through the dermis and epidermis (1, 6).

Part of the coiled portion of the sweat gland that lies deep in the dermis is the
secretory portion (9). Here, secretory cells (4) are large, columnar, and stain

lightly eosinophilic. Surrounding the bases of the secretory cells (4) are thin,
spindle-shaped myoepithelial cells (5) located between the base of the secretory
cells (4) and the surrounding basement membrane (not illustrated). Where the
light-staining secretory cells (4, 9) change to dark-staining excretory duct (2, 7)

represents the transition area (3, 8) between the secretory and excretory regions
of the sweat gland.

The cells of the excretory ducts (2, 7) are smaller than the secretory cells (4).
Also, the excretory ducts (2, 7) have smaller diameters and are lined by denser-

staining and, stratified cuboidal cells without any myoepithelial cells (2, 7). As
the excretory ducts (2, 7) ascend through the connective tissue of the dermis,
they straighten out, penetrate the cell layers of the epidermis (1, 6), lose the
epithelial wall, and follow a spiral course through the skin cells to the surface.

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