Editing Apocrine (section)

{{Short description|Classification of secretion of exocrine glands}}
{{Exocrine secretion}}
'''Apocrine''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|æ|p|ə|k|r|ɪ|n}})<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lexico.com/definition/apocrine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726070752/https://www.lexico.com/definition/apocrine|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 26, 2020|title=Apocrine &#124; Meaning of Apocrine by Lexico|website=Lexico Dictionaries &#124; English}}</ref>  is a term used to classify the mode of [[secretion]] of [[exocrine glands]]. In apocrine secretion, secretory cells accumulate material at their [[apical (anatomy)|apical]] ends, often forming [[Bleb (cell biology)|blebs]] or "snouts", and this material then [[Budding|buds off]] from the cells, forming extracellular [[vesicle (biology and chemistry)|vesicle]]s. The secretory cells therefore lose part of their [[cytoplasm]] in the process of secretion.

An example of true apocrine glands is the [[mammary gland]]s, responsible for secreting breast milk.<ref>Mescher AL, "Chapter 4. Epithelial Tissue" (Chapter). Mescher AL: Junqueira's Basic Histology: Text & Atlas, 12e: http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=6180489.</ref> Apocrine glands are also found in the anogenital region and [[axilla]]e.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Murphrey|first1=Morgan B.|url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482199/|title=Histology, Apocrine Gland|last2=Safadi|first2=Anthony O.|last3=Vaidya|first3=Tanvi|date=August 10, 2020|publisher=StatPearls Publishing|pmid=29489220}}</ref>

Apocrine secretion is less damaging to the gland than holocrine secretion (which destroys a cell) but more damaging than merocrine secretion ([[exocytosis]]).
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File:405 Modes of Secretion by Glands Apocrine.png|Apocrine secretion
Image:Apocrine.jpg|Apocrine gland
File:Histology of apocrine cells.png|Histology of apocrine cells, H&E stain.
</gallery>