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Modes of secretion: holocrine

Holocrine secretion involves the release of entire cells or their fragments from the secretory unit, as shown in this image of a sebaceous gland and a hair follicle. At the periphery of the acinus, cells proliferate and move toward the center, accumulating lipid as they mature, enlarge and degenerate. In this example of a sebaceous gland, lipid-filled cells either rupture their contents, sebum, or are shed as whole cells onto the hair shaft in a hair follicle. 400x

Acini <p>Holocrine secretion involves the release of entire cells or their fragments from the secretory unit, as shown in this image of a sebaceous gland and a hair follicle. At the periphery of the acinus, cells proliferate and move toward the center, accumulating lipid as they mature, enlarge and degenerate. In this example of a sebaceous gland, lipid-filled cells either rupture their contents, sebum, or are shed as whole cells onto the hair shaft in a hair follicle. 400x</p>

Acini

Holocrine secretion involves the release of entire cells or their fragments from the secretory unit, as shown in this image of a sebaceous gland and a hair follicle. At the periphery of the acinus, cells proliferate and move toward the center, accumulating lipid as they mature, enlarge and degenerate. In this example of a sebaceous gland, lipid-filled cells either rupture their contents, sebum, or are shed as whole cells onto the hair shaft in a hair follicle. 400x

- Proliferating cells <p>Holocrine secretion involves the release of entire cells or their fragments from the secretory unit, as shown in this image of a sebaceous gland and a hair follicle. At the periphery of the acinus, cells proliferate and move toward the center, accumulating lipid as they mature, enlarge and degenerate. In this example of a sebaceous gland, lipid-filled cells either rupture their contents, sebum, or are shed as whole cells onto the hair shaft in a hair follicle. 400x</p>

- Proliferating cells

Holocrine secretion involves the release of entire cells or their fragments from the secretory unit, as shown in this image of a sebaceous gland and a hair follicle. At the periphery of the acinus, cells proliferate and move toward the center, accumulating lipid as they mature, enlarge and degenerate. In this example of a sebaceous gland, lipid-filled cells either rupture their contents, sebum, or are shed as whole cells onto the hair shaft in a hair follicle. 400x

- Cells accumulating lipid <p>Holocrine secretion involves the release of entire cells or their fragments from the secretory unit, as shown in this image of a sebaceous gland and a hair follicle. At the periphery of the acinus, cells proliferate and move toward the center, accumulating lipid as they mature, enlarge and degenerate. In this example of a sebaceous gland, lipid-filled cells either rupture their contents, sebum, or are shed as whole cells onto the hair shaft in a hair follicle. 400x</p>

- Cells accumulating lipid

Holocrine secretion involves the release of entire cells or their fragments from the secretory unit, as shown in this image of a sebaceous gland and a hair follicle. At the periphery of the acinus, cells proliferate and move toward the center, accumulating lipid as they mature, enlarge and degenerate. In this example of a sebaceous gland, lipid-filled cells either rupture their contents, sebum, or are shed as whole cells onto the hair shaft in a hair follicle. 400x

- Lipid-filled, degenerating cells <p>Holocrine secretion involves the release of entire cells or their fragments from the secretory unit, as shown in this image of a sebaceous gland and a hair follicle. At the periphery of the acinus, cells proliferate and move toward the center, accumulating lipid as they mature, enlarge and degenerate. In this example of a sebaceous gland, lipid-filled cells either rupture their contents, sebum, or are shed as whole cells onto the hair shaft in a hair follicle. 400x</p>

- Lipid-filled, degenerating cells

Holocrine secretion involves the release of entire cells or their fragments from the secretory unit, as shown in this image of a sebaceous gland and a hair follicle. At the periphery of the acinus, cells proliferate and move toward the center, accumulating lipid as they mature, enlarge and degenerate. In this example of a sebaceous gland, lipid-filled cells either rupture their contents, sebum, or are shed as whole cells onto the hair shaft in a hair follicle. 400x

Sebum <p>Holocrine secretion involves the release of entire cells or their fragments from the secretory unit, as shown in this image of a sebaceous gland and a hair follicle. At the periphery of the acinus, cells proliferate and move toward the center, accumulating lipid as they mature, enlarge and degenerate. In this example of a sebaceous gland, lipid-filled cells either rupture their contents, sebum, or are shed as whole cells onto the hair shaft in a hair follicle. 400x</p>

Sebum

Holocrine secretion involves the release of entire cells or their fragments from the secretory unit, as shown in this image of a sebaceous gland and a hair follicle. At the periphery of the acinus, cells proliferate and move toward the center, accumulating lipid as they mature, enlarge and degenerate. In this example of a sebaceous gland, lipid-filled cells either rupture their contents, sebum, or are shed as whole cells onto the hair shaft in a hair follicle. 400x

Hair follicle <p>Holocrine secretion involves the release of entire cells or their fragments from the secretory unit, as shown in this image of a sebaceous gland and a hair follicle. At the periphery of the acinus, cells proliferate and move toward the center, accumulating lipid as they mature, enlarge and degenerate. In this example of a sebaceous gland, lipid-filled cells either rupture their contents, sebum, or are shed as whole cells onto the hair shaft in a hair follicle. 400x</p>

Hair follicle

Holocrine secretion involves the release of entire cells or their fragments from the secretory unit, as shown in this image of a sebaceous gland and a hair follicle. At the periphery of the acinus, cells proliferate and move toward the center, accumulating lipid as they mature, enlarge and degenerate. In this example of a sebaceous gland, lipid-filled cells either rupture their contents, sebum, or are shed as whole cells onto the hair shaft in a hair follicle. 400x

Main Slide Acini - Proliferating cells - Cells accumulating lipid - Lipid-filled, degenerating cells Sebum Hair follicle