sebaceous gland

(noun)

A gland of the skin that secretes an oily substance, sebum, usually into a hair follicle near the surface of the skin.

Related Terms

  • dermabrasion
  • cerumen
  • androgen
  • fetal skin
  • apocrine gland
  • neural crest cells

Examples of sebaceous gland in the following topics:

  • Sebaceous (Oil) Glands

    • Sebaceous glands are found in the skin all over the body (except the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet).
    • The sebaceous glands are microscopic glands found in the skin of mammals .
    • In the eyelids, meibomian sebaceous glands secrete a special type of sebum into tears.
    • In the glands, sebum is produced within specialized cells and is released as these cells burst; sebaceous glands are thus classified as holocrine glands.
    • In the glands, sebum is produced within specialized cells and is released as these cells burst; sebaceous glands are thus classified as holocrine glands.
  • Development of the Integumentary System

    • The integumentary system is both a barrier and a sensory organ, and includes the skin (the largest bodily organ), as well as appendages, sweat and sebaceous glands, hair, nails and arrectores pillorum (tiny muscles at the root of each hair that cause goose bumps).
    • Other regions of the ectoderm form into epithelial columns called cords which become hair follicles and sebaceous and sweat glands.
    • At 20 weeks gestation, hair begins to grow from sebaceous glands, while sweat glands are formed from coiled cords.
    • Other cords begin to form mammary glands.
  • Acne

    • Acne, clinically known as acne vulgaris, is a common human skin disease affecting skin with the densest population of sebaceous follicles such as the face, upper parts of the chest, and back.
    • Enlargement of sebaceous glands and an increase in sebum production occur with increased androgen production during puberty and directly before menstruation.
    • Sebaceous glands become clogged with sebum, a naturally occurring skin oil, and dead skin cells.
    • The sebaceous gland produces oily secretions that can block the follicle, resulting in a pimple.
  • Excretion and Absorption

    • ., perspiration via the eccrine glands).
    • Two types of sweat glands can be found in humans: eccrine glands and apocrine glands.
    • Eccrine glands are the major sweat glands of the human body, found in virtually all skin .
    • The sebaceous glands are microscopic glands in the skin that secrete an oily/waxy matter, called sebum, to lubricate and waterproof the skin and hair of mammals.
    • In the eyelids, meibomian sebaceous glands secrete a special type of sebum into tears.
  • Sweat (Sudoriferous) Glands

    • Sweat glands, also known as sudoriferous glands, are distributed over most of the body surface.
    • Sweat glands, also called sudoriferous glands, are simple tubular glands found almost everywhere on our body. 
    • The other kind of sweat glands are known as apocrine glands. 
    • Unlike eccrine glands, the exact function of apocrine glands is unknown and debated. 
    • Cross sectional image of skin showing a sweat gland and a sebaceous gland.
  • Glandular Epithelia

    • There are two major classifications of glands: endocrine glands and exocrine glands.
    • Examples of exocrine glands include the sweat glands, salivary glands, mammary glands, the pancreas, and the liver.
    • An endocrine gland is its counterpart.
    • Examples of endocrine glands include the adrenal glands, located atop the kidneys and responsible for the secretion of certain hormones such as adrenaline, cortisol, and others.
    • The sebaceous glands are microscopic glands in the skin that secrete an oily/waxy matter, called sebum, to lubricate and waterproof the skin and hair of mammals.
  • Impacted Cerumen

    • It is a mixture of viscous secretions from sebaceous glands and less-viscous ones from modified apocrine glands.
  • Structure of the Skin: Dermis

    • The reticular layer also contains hair follicles, sweat glands, and sebaceous glands.
    • The sweat gland can either be apocrine, such as those found in the armpits and the groin area, or the eccrine glands, which are found all over the body.
    • The sebaceous glands found in the dermis secrete a substance called sebum that helps to lubricate and protect our skin from drying out.
  • Protection

    • Sebaceous glands associated with the skin secrete substances that help fight off potentially dangerous microorganisms as well. 
    • These glands also secrete substances that help keep our skin hydrated, and thus more resistant to bacterial invasion. 
    • Our skin is also closely associated with sweat glands that help protect us from high temperatures by cooling us off through the process of evaporation. 
    • These glands also help to excrete potentially dangerous substances, like urea, out of the body. 
  • Skin and Mucosae (Surface Barriers)

    • The epidermis also helps the skin regulate body temperature through sweat pores that connect to underlying sweat glands in the dermis.
    • It also contains the hair follicles, sweat glands, sebaceous glands, apocrine glands, lymphatic vessels, and blood vessels.
    • In the stomach it is columnar and organized into gastric pits and glands to secrete acids and pepsin.
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