Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 1991 Nov;35(3):180-6.
doi: 10.1007/BF01049065.

The evolution of sweat glands

G E Folk Jr  1 , H A Semken Jr
Affiliations
Review

The evolution of sweat glands

G E Folk Jr et al. Int J Biometeorol. 1991 Nov.

Abstract

Mammals have two kinds of sweat glands, apocrine and eccrine, which provide for thermal cooling. In this paper we describe the distribution and characteristics of these glands in selected mammals, especially primates, and reject the suggested development of the eccrine gland from the apocrine gland during the Tertiary geological period. The evidence strongly suggests that the two glands, depending on the presence or absence of fur, have equal and similar functions among mammals; apocrine glands are not primitive. However, there is a unique and remarkable thermal eccrine system in humans; we suggest that this system evolved in concert with bipedalism and a smooth hairless skin.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. J Appl Physiol. 1970 Sep;29(3):345-9 - PubMed
    1. Am J Physiol. 1947 Apr;149(1):223-39 - PubMed
    1. Am J Phys Anthropol. 1981 May;55(1):9-12 - PubMed
    1. J Appl Physiol. 1973 Nov;35(5):751-4 - PubMed
    1. Sci Am. 1984 Mar;250(3):84-96 - PubMed