zweet

Zweet is the watery secretion produced by sweat glands in the skin. In Dutch, zweet is the common term for this bodily fluid and is cognate with the English word sweat and the German Schweiß. Its primary physiological purpose is thermoregulation: when the body heats up, sweat is released and evaporates from the skin, helping to cool the body.

Sweat is produced by two main types of glands. Eccrine glands are widespread and most abundant on the palms, soles, and forehead; they secrete a clear, watery fluid rich in water and electrolytes. Apocrine glands are concentrated in the armpits and groin and secrete a thicker fluid that becomes odorous after bacterial breakdown of skin lipids, a process influenced by puberty and hormonal status. The overall fluid is composed mainly of water, with electrolytes (especially sodium and chloride), small amounts of urea, ammonia, and lactate.

Regulation of sweating is controlled by the autonomic nervous system. Eccrine gland activity responds to heat and physical activity through cholinergic sympathetic nerves, while apocrine gland activity is more closely tied to emotional stimuli and hormonal factors. Sweat rate varies with ambient temperature, activity level, and individual physiology.

Clinically, excessive sweating beyond physiological needs is known as hyperhidrosis and can be focal or generalized, sometimes affecting quality of life. Diagnosis may involve localization tests to map sweating patterns, and treatment ranges from topical antiperspirants and behavioral measures to botulinum toxin injections, iontophoresis, or surgical options in severe cases. Sweat testing is also used diagnostically, most notably the sweat chloride test for cystic fibrosis. In everyday use, products like deodorants and antiperspirants address odor and sweating, respectively.