Lecture 9: Glands introduction Flashcards
What is the definition of a gland?
An epithelial cell or an aggregate of epithelial cells that are specialised for the secretion of a substance
What are the 2 types of glands classified according to their structure?
Endocrine (ductless) and exocrine (ducted)
What is the meaning of an endocrine gland?
- Ductless
- Secrete directly into blood, to let the secretion function at distant parts of the body
- Secrete hormones
What is the meaning of an exocrine gland?
- Ducted
- Secrete into a location or a region of the body through a duct
- Secretions are mostly enzymes or lubricants
- Only cells at the apex of the duct secrete products
What are the types of glands according to modes of secretion?
- Merocrine
- Apocrine
- Holocrine
What is the meaning of a merocrine gland?
Mode of secretion: Fusion of vesicles with apical membrane
What is the meaning of a apocrine gland?
Mode of secretion: Partial loss of cytoplasm
What is the meaning of a holocrine gland?
Complete loss of cytoplasm or cell
What is the mechanism of merocrine secretion?
- Regulated Secreton
- Constitutive secretion
How does regulated merocrine secretion work?
Active process - uses energy
- Secretory granules accumulate in large vesicles
- Active secretion requires signal or simulation( Ca2+)
- Vesicles migrate to cell surface along microtubules by using energy
- In presence of Ca2+ ions, membrane of vesicles fuses with plasmalemma
- Contents are released to extracellular space
- Membrane of vesicles fuses with plasma membrane
How does constitutive merocrine secretion work?
- Secretory product packaged into small vesicles
- Continuously released to the cell surface
- Membranes of vesicles fuses with plasma membrane
How does apocrine secretion work?
- Non-membrane bounded structure approaches cell surface
- Makes contact and pushes up apical membrane
- Thin layer of apical cytoplasm drapes around droplet
- Membrane surrounding droplet pinches off from cell
- Plasma membrane transiently smaller
How does holocrine secretion work?
- Secretory cell gradually fills up with secretory granules
- Cell organelles degenerate
- Cells die
- Plasma membrane breaks and contents are released
What are the mechanisms of endocytosis?
- Engulfing of molecules inside the cell via vesicles formation
- Phagocytosis
- Pinocytosis
- Receptor-mediated endocytosis
What is the mechanism of phagocytosis?
- Cells (phagocytes) uses pseudopodium to envelop or engulf other cells or particles
- Mainly used by cells of the immune system