apocrine

[ ap-uh-krin, -krahyn, -kreen ]

adjective

, Physiology.

1. of or relating to certain glands whose secretions are acted upon by bacteria to produce the characteristic odor of perspiration ( eccrine ).
2. of or relating to such secretions:

   apocrine sweat.

apocrine

/ ˈæpəkraɪn; -krɪn /

adjective

1. denoting a type of glandular secretion in which part of the secreting cell is lost with the secretion, as in mammary glands Compare merocrine holocrine

Word History and Origins

Origin of apocrine¹

1925–30; < Greek apokrī́nein to set apart, equivalent to apo- apo- + krī́nein to separate, choose; formed as if with -ine ¹, probably on the model of endocrine

Word History and Origins

Origin of apocrine¹

C20: from apo- + -crine, from Greek krinein to separate

Example Sentences

Body odor from the armpits comes from bacteria metabolizing sweat produced by the apocrine glands.

From Science Daily

Aluminum is often used for this, plugging up perspiration-producing glands called eccrine and apocrine glands, the latter of which are concentrated in the hairy parts of the body.

From National Geographic

That’s because there are two types of sweat glands present there: eccrine glands, which sweat out the salty watery stuff discussed above, and apocrine glands, which release a viscous waxy substance.

From Washington Post

Then there’s the other kind of sweat, which comes from the larger apocrine glands, located in places like the armpits and the groin.

From New York Times

Mammals have three types of sweat glands: apocrine, sebaceous and eccrine.

From Scientific American