Question

Describe the histological features of the mammary gland and compare the method of secretion of this gland to the sebaceous glands and sweat glands.

Answer 1

The mammary galnds is a modified sweat gland, each breast is made up of 15-25 secretory lobes, embedded in adipose tissue.  They are modified tubuloalveolar apocrine sweat glands located on the anterior thoracic wall. The adult mammilary gland consists of alveoli lined with milk secreting cuboidal cells surrounded by myoepithelieal cells, the alveoli joins to form lobules, each lobules empty into lactiferous ducts that empty into the surface of nipples, these ducts are surrounded by smooth muscles, when these smooth muscles contract the nipples become erect. The mammary gland which secrete milk is an apocrine gland, at the apical end there are specalized cells which produces secretions, when these secretions accumulate, the apex cells gets pinched off to release the milk

The sebacious gland gland is found mostly in hair follicles on our body. It exerts oily fluids and a fatty material called sebum, whose main function is to waterproof the body and lubricate the hair, these glands are not found in palms of hands and soles of our feet. In both sexes secretion of sebum is controled by testosterone, when testosterone enters the sebacious gland, an enzyme present in the gland converts testosterone to di-hydrotestosterone, which stimulates the production of sebum from these glands.

Sweat glands are the glands that produce sweat, there are two type sweat gland, apocrine sweat glands that are mostly found in our armpits and eccrine sweat glands found in all skin, with the highest density in palm and soles, but very less on the trunk and the extremities. The secretions of sweat gland is controled by sympathetic nervous system, when the internal temperature rises, it secretes water to the surface, when these evaporates they cool the body, there by regulating the temperature of the body.