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Glite Dictionary
apocrine gland

apocrine gland

7.4
A large sweat gland in hairy areas like armpits that makes thicker sweat causing body smell
  • noun
  • /ˈæpəˌkraɪn ɡlænd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : glándula apocrina
  • The apocrine glands of the inner foreskin, which produce pheromones—nature's powerful, silent, invisible behavioral signals to potential sexual partners.

Examples

  • In certain areas of the body, such as the groin, apocrine glands play a key role in scent production.

  • During moments of stress, the apocrine gland can release sweat that may carry a noticeable scent.

  • The apocrine glands under the arms produce sweat that can lead to body odor when mixed with bacteria.

Surface Forms

apocrine gland singular
apocrine glands plural

Morphology

apocrine + gland

The phrase is a regular adjective+noun composition: if the learner knows 'apocrine' (a gland type that secretes cell fragments) and 'gland' (an organ that releases fluids), they can directly infer that an 'apocrine gland' is a gland of that secretion type. The meaning is compositional and follows standard medical naming patterns, so it is transparent to someone familiar with the constituent words.

Etymology

The term apocrine gland comes from the parts apo- (meaning 'away' or 'off') and -crine (meaning 'to release'). These glands 'send off' part of a cell with their thicker sweat, so the name fits how they make the scent-producing fluid in hairy areas like the armpits.