verejtékmirigyek

Verejtékmirigyek, also known as sweat glands, are small, tubular structures located in the skin of mammals. Their primary function is to produce sweat, a fluid that plays a crucial role in thermoregulation, or the regulation of body temperature. When the body temperature rises, such as during physical activity or in a warm environment, the nervous system stimulates the verejtékmirigyek to release sweat onto the skin's surface. As this sweat evaporates, it absorbs heat from the body, thus cooling the organism down.

There are two main types of verejtékmirigyek: eccrine and apocrine. Eccrine glands are the most numerous and are distributed throughout the body, particularly on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, and forehead. Their secretions are primarily water and electrolytes, and they are responsible for the majority of evaporative cooling. Apocrine glands, on the other hand, are larger and are mainly found in the axillary (armpit) and genital regions. They become active during puberty and their secretions contain lipids and proteins, which can be broken down by bacteria on the skin, leading to body odor.

In addition to thermoregulation, sweat can also play a role in excretion, though its contribution to removing waste products from the body is minimal compared to the kidneys. Sweat can contain small amounts of urea, salts, and other metabolic byproducts. The production and release of sweat are regulated by the autonomic nervous system, responding to both internal body temperature changes and external environmental conditions.