Which type of glands are eccrine glands?

Eccrine glands are classified as water-secreting glands, which is fundamental to their primary function in the body. These glands are primarily responsible for regulating body temperature through the secretion of sweat, which is composed mostly of water. When the body temperature rises, eccrine glands produce sweat that evaporates from the skin surface, thereby cooling the body.

Unlike other types of glands, eccrine glands are distributed widely across the skin and are not associated with hair follicles. They do not secrete oils or contribute to body odor in the way that apocrine glands do, which mainly focus on scent production. Understanding this distinction reinforces the role of eccrine glands in thermoregulation and sweat production.