Nonsecreting

Nonsecreting is an adjective used in biology and medicine to describe cells, tissues, glands, or organisms that do not produce or release secretions under specified conditions. Secretions are substances produced for transport to a target site and can be exocrine (into ducts or surfaces) or endocrine (into the bloodstream). A structure may be nonsecreting due to functional inactivity, developmental abnormality, or disease.

In physiology and pathology, nonsecretion may refer to a lack of secretion (an absolute nonsecretion) or to reduced secretion known as hyposecretion. Some glands or glandular cells may be structurally present but metabolically quiescent, while others may have lost the ability to secrete because of injury, inflammation, or neoplastic transformation.

Examples include nonsecretory glandular tissue identified in histology where ducts exist but secretory products are absent, or endocrine glands that fail to release hormones under certain conditions. In medical contexts, the term helps distinguish functional status from anatomical presence. Nonsecretion can have clinical consequences such as impaired digestion, altered fluid balance, or hormonal deficiency.

Terminology and usage: Nonsecreting is typically used when the focus is on secretory function rather than gross anatomy. It is important to specify which product is affected (for example, saliva, insulin, digestive enzymes) and the condition under which nonsecretion is observed. The term is not a diagnosis in itself but a descriptor of secretory activity.