What Is the Sebaceous Gland?

The sebaceous gland is a pancreatic secretion gland composed of acinar and short ducts. The sebaceous ducts open in the hair follicles. There are sebaceous glands in the skin except for the hands. The most sebaceous glands in the forehead, nose, and upper back are called seborrhea. The rest are relatively few, and there are no sebaceous glands on the palms, toes, and back of the foot.

Basic Information

Chinese name

Sebaceous glands

Make up

Pancreatic glands with short ducts

Location

Sebaceous glands in the skin except for the hands

Secretion

Varies by race, age, gender, etc.

Function

Moisturizes skin and hair, sterilizes

Sebaceous gland composition

Most of the sebaceous glands are located between the hair follicles and the trichome muscles. The secretory part is vesicle-like and consists of multiple layers of glandular cells. The cells close to the basement membrane around the acinus are small, flat or cuboid, and are called basal cells. The newly generated glandular cells continue to move toward the center, the volume increases, and there are more and more small lipid droplets in the cytoplasm. The cells in the center of the acinar are larger, the nucleus shrinks, the organelles disappear, and the cytoplasm is filled with lipid droplets. Finally, the glandular cells disintegrate and are discharged simultaneously with lipid droplets, which is sebum.

Sebaceous glands

Sebaceous gland secretion varies according to factors such as race, age, gender, and climate. Secretion is weak before the age of 10, and the secretion is the strongest at the age of 16 to 35, and weakened in old age; the secretion is strong in the summer and less in the autumn and winter; eating too greasy and spicy food and massage can also increase secretion. The strong secretion of sebaceous glands can lead to oily skin, rough skin, and enlarged pores, which are prone to acne and seborrheic dermatitis. Sebaceous gland atrophy, secretion of too little sebum can lead to dry skin, desquamation, skin aging, etc., so controlling the secretion of sebaceous glands is very important.

Sebaceous glands

1. The sebaceous glands mainly moisturize the skin and hair to prevent dry skin. If the sebaceous gland secretion function is normal, the sebum secretion is moderate, the sebum spreads on the epidermis, the skin will become smooth, shiny and soft, and it can prevent the evaporation of water.
2. The sebaceous glands contain fatty acids, which make the skin slightly acidic and have a bactericidal effect.