Waste Products Of The Skin

Waste Products of the Skin

May 30, 2010 | By Angela Joseph

The skin, also known as the integumentary system, is the largest organ of the body, and since it covers the body, it is the only organ that's always visible. If anything goes wrong with the skin, it is immediately seen and felt. For this reason, we go to great lengths to care for and protect it. Our skin has two major components: The cutaneous membrane, which is made up of two parts, the epidermis or outer layer and the dermis which lies beneath, and; the accessory structures, which include hair, nails and glands.

Types Of Sweat Glands

Apocrine sweat glands, located in the armpits, around the nipples and the groin, begin secreting sweat at puberty. This sweat is a source for bacteria and has an odor. The merocrine or eccrine sweat glands are located all over the body and are more numerous in the palms and soles of your feet. Merocrine glands discharge a clear secretion called sweat or sensible perspiration on to the surface of the skin. Sweat is mainly water, but it does contain electrolytes, chiefly sodium chloride, or salt, metabolites and waste products.

Sebaceous Glands

These are holocrine glands that secrete a waxy, oily substance into hair follicles and on to the skin. Sebum lubricates and protects the keratin of the hair shaft. Sebaceous glands become more active at puberty and, when blocked, may give rise to acne. Sebaceous follicles are large sebaceous glands that never produce hairs, but are found on the skin covering the face, chest, back, nipples and male sex organs. Under some conditions, bacteria can invade sebaceous glands or follicles and produce an inflammation called folliculitis. If the duct of the gland becomes blocked, it may form a furuncle or boil.

Other Integumentary Glands

There are two other integumentary glands. The mammary glands are apocrine glands and they are important in the production and secretion of milk. The ceruminous glands, located in the external auditory canal, combine with nearby sebaceous glands to form a mixture called cerumen, commonly known as ear wax.