sweat gland

noun

: a simple tubular gland of the skin that excretes perspiration, is widely distributed in nearly all parts of the human skin, and consists typically of an epithelial tube extending spirally from a minute pore on the surface of the skin into the dermis or subcutaneous tissues where it ends in a convoluted tuft

Examples of sweat gland in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The majority of your sweat glands don’t provide such a nutritional bounty and therefore don’t give rise to odor. —Amanda Schupak, CNN, 12 Jan. 2025

Humans have 10 times as many sweat glands as chimpanzees do. —The Atlantic Science Desk, The Atlantic, 28 Dec. 2024

Many different surgical techniques can remove sweat glands from under your arms. —Heidi Cope, Health, 23 Dec. 2024

Sensors that measure variations in the conductance of our skin due to changes in our sweat glands—known as the galvanic skin response—are starting to show up in wrist wearables and will be easily adapted to the ear. —IEEE Spectrum, 1 May 2019

Word History

First Known Use

1845, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

sweat gland

noun

: a gland of the skin that gives off perspiration and opens by a tiny pore in the skin

Medical Definition

sweat gland

noun

: a simple tubular gland of the skin that secretes perspiration, in humans is widely distributed in nearly all parts of the skin, and consists typically of an epithelial tube extending spirally from a minute pore on the surface of the skin into the dermis or subcutaneous tissues where it ends in a convoluted tuft

called also sudoriferous gland, sudoriparous gland