Question

Glands that release entire cells filled with secretory products are called ______ glands.

A) Endocrine
B) Exocrine
C) Apocrine
D) Merocrine

Answer 1

Holocrine glands release entire cells filled with secretory products. Exocrine glands release their contents through ducts, and the method of secretion can vary between merocrine, apocrine, and holocrine.

Step-by-step explanation:

Glands that release entire cells filled with secretory products are called holocrine glands. Unlike merocrine glands, which release their secretions via exocytosis without losing cellular material, or apocrine glands, which shed part of their cell during secretion, holocrine glands accumulate secretions internally until the entire cell disintegrates. This mode of secretion involves the breakdown of the glandular cell, and the released content includes the cell's remnants as well as its secretory product.

Exocrine glands are responsible for releasing their contents through a duct that leads to the epithelial surface. Examples of secretions from exocrine glands include mucous, sweat, saliva, and breast milk. The exocrine glands have different mechanisms of releasing their secretions, depending on whether they are classified as merocrine, apocrine, or holocrine.

Answer 2

Glands that release entire cells filled with secretory products are called Apocrine glands so correct option is C.

Step-by-step explanation:

Apocrine glands release secretory products in a distinctive manner. These glands, found in certain regions of the body like the axillary and mammary areas, release entire cells filled with their secretions. Unlike merocrine glands that release fluid without cellular components and exocrine glands that release secretions through ducts, apocrine glands involve the shedding of cytoplasmic portions containing the secretory products.

This mode of secretion often occurs in response to hormonal or neural stimuli. Apocrine sweat glands, for example, play a role in thermoregulation, and apocrine mammary glands are involved in milk production. While the term "apocrine" suggests a loss of cellular material during secretion, it's important to note that the entire cell is not sacrificed, but rather a portion of it is shed along with the secreted substances. So the correct option is C.