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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>](https://digitalhistology.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/T.E.Glands.Ex_.Ov-6-1-ping.png)
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>](https://digitalhistology.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/T.E.Glands.Ex_.Ov-6-2-ping.png)
- 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>](https://digitalhistology.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/T.E.Glands.Ex_.Ov-6-3-ping.png)
- 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>](https://digitalhistology.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/T.E.Glands.Ex_.Ov-6-4-ping.png)
- 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>](https://digitalhistology.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/T.E.Glands.Ex_.Ov-6-5-ping.png)
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>](https://digitalhistology.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/T.E.Glands.Ex_.Ov-6-6-ping.png)
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