Merocrine

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Phone:617-632-7753

Merocrine (eccrine) is a classification of exocrine glands in the study of Histology.

A cell is classified as merocrine if the secretions of that cell dump directly into the lumen.

This is done by vesicles opening onto the surface of the cell, and the secretory product is discharged from the cell – normal exocytosis.

Merocrine is the most common manner of secretion.

It may be remembered by thinking of “Merry” as in happy. The gland releases its product and no part of the gland is lost.