Integumentary System - Gland Development
Introduction
The secretory glands associated with the integumentary system have similar embryonic origins and mechanisms of development, though are specialised by their locations and secretions. A key process and feature of all gland development is an epithelial-mesenchymal interaction(s). Gland secretion can also be regulated by a number of different mechanisms, including endocrine changes postnatally at puberty and during pregnancy.
The mammary gland development is covered in detail on a separate notes page.
Some Recent Findings
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Textbooks
- Human Embryology (2nd ed.) Larson Chapter 14 p443-455
- The Developing Human: Clinically Oriented Embryology (6th ed.) Moore and Persaud Chapter 20: P513-529
- Before We Are Born (5th ed.) Moore and Persaud Chapter 21: P481-496
- Essentials of Human Embryology Larson Chapter 14: P303-315
- Human Embryology, Fitzgerald and Fitzgerald
- Color Atlas of Clinical Embryology Moore Persaud and Shiota Chapter 15: p231-236
Development of Glands
Two main surface types, sweat and sebaceous, with a number of specialized glands in integumentary regions (lacrimal, Meibomian).
- both ectodermal in origin
- form as ingrowth of ectoderm into the mesoderm
Sweat Gland
Humans have two types of sweat glands are present in humans, differing in secretory mechanism, number, histological appearance and sweat composition.
- merocrine (~eccrine) sweat glands (majority)
- apocrine sweat glands (minority)
- apocrine in axilla, pubic and nipple regions
- see also mammary gland development
Sebaceous Gland
Adult skin sebaceous gland histology
- associated with hair development
- except plans penis and labia minora
- these glands secrete vernix
Vernix Caseosa
(vernix, Latin, vernix = varnish, caseous = cheese=like) This is a specialized coating that forms in late development over the entire fetal surface. The main component, secreted sebum, is secreted by sebaceous glands. The other constituents are cells sloughed off the fetus's skin, and shed lanugo hair. The coating also has a high water content (80%) largely compartmentalized within fetal corneocytes (cells forming the stratum corneum). [2]
This coating develops intially in a cranio-caudal direction and can be absent in preterm infants.
Some functions include:
- protection of the fetal skin from extraembryonic fluids amnion, urine
- providing a slippery surface helps with parturition (birth)
- acting as a biofilm barrier against infection
Lacrimal Glands
Lacrimal glands produce the aqueous tears that mix with Meibomian glands secretions to form a tear film coating the outer surface of the eye.
Human Development (based upon data from[3])
- Carnegie stage 16-18 - formation of the lacrimal lamina
- Carnegie stage 19-23 - formation of the lacrimal cord
- Week 9+ - maturation of the excretory lacrimal system
Meibomian Glands
The Meibomian glands (glandulae tarsales) are sebaceous glands located at the margins of the upper and lower eyelids of humans and mammals.[4] The gland cells (meibocytes) secrete by a holocrine mechanism and produce constantly a lipid-rich secretion (meibum) that mix with with aqueous tears produced by lacrimal glands. These glands are also regulated through sex hormones, androgens have a supporting function while estrogens act antagonistically.
The glands were first described in 1666 by Heinrich Meibom (1638 - 1700) a German physician and anatomist.
Abnormalities
Alacrima
Term describes a range of abnormalities associated with lacrimal gland development. The most common genetic cause of alacrima is the Riley-Day syndrome.
Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction
Drainage duct obstruction can be a common anomaly in children and can be caused by inflammation or fibrosis without any precipitating cause (primary classification) or by an acquired lacrimal drainage obstruction (secondary classification).
Vernix Caseosa Peritonitis
Not an abnormality of development, but a clinical term for a rare post-caesarean section complication due to spilt vernix caseosa at the time of caesarean section mediating a maternal inflammatory reaction.[5]
References
Journals
Reviews
<pubmed>19681790</pubmed> <pubmed>8919141</pubmed> <pubmed>8196943</pubmed> <pubmed>19020961</pubmed>
Articles
<pubmed>19881987</pubmed> <pubmed>16179970</pubmed>
Search PubMed
Search Pubmed: Epithelial Gland Development | Sweat Gland Development | Sebaceous Gland Development | Eccrine Gland Development | Apocrine Gland Development | Lacrimal Gland Development | Meibomian Gland Development
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Cite this page: Hill, M.A. (2024, April 25) Embryology Integumentary System - Gland Development. Retrieved from https://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/embryology/index.php/Integumentary_System_-_Gland_Development
- © Dr Mark Hill 2024, UNSW Embryology ISBN: 978 0 7334 2609 4 - UNSW CRICOS Provider Code No. 00098G