sebaceous gland (səbā`shəs), gland in the skin skin, the flexible tissue (integument) enclosing the body of vertebrate animals. In humans and other mammals, the skin operates a complex organ of numerous structures (sometimes called the integumentary system) serving vital protective and metabolic functions.
..... Click the link for more information. of mammals that secretes an oily substance called sebum. In humans, sebaceous glands are primarily found in association with hair hair, slender threadlike outgrowth from the skin of mammals. In some animals hair grows in dense profusion and is called fur or wool . Although all mammals show some indication of hair formation, dense hair is more common among species located in colder climates and
..... Click the link for more information. follicles but also occur in hairless areas of the skin, except for the palms of the hand and soles of the feet. Sebum is a mixture of fat and the debris of dead fat-producing cells. These cells are constantly replaced by new growth at the base of the glands. Generally the sebum is deposited on the hairs inside the follicles and is brought up to the surface of the skin along the hair shaft. In hairless areas, the sebum surfaces through ducts. Sebum lubricates and protects the hair and skin and prevents drying and irritation of membranes. Sebum may collect excessively as a result of poor hygiene, a diet rich in fats, or accelerated glandular activity, especially during adolescence. Excessive secretions of sebum may be related to acne acne, common inflammatory disease of the hair follicles and sebaceous glands characterized by blackheads , whiteheads, pustules, nodules and, in the more severe forms, by cysts and scarring. The lesions appear on the face, neck, back, chest, and arms.
..... Click the link for more information. , certain forms of baldness baldness, thinning or loss of hair as a result of illness, functional disorder, or hereditary disposition; also known as alopecia. Male pattern baldness, a genetic trait, is the most common cause of baldness among white males.
..... Click the link for more information. , and other skin disorders.

sebaceous gland

Small oil-producing gland in the skin, usually connected to a hair follicle by a duct into which it releases sebum, a component of the slightly greasy film on the skin that helps keep it flexible and prevents too much water loss or absorption. The glands are distributed over the entire body except the palms and soles, most abundantly on the scalp and face. Large and well developed at birth, they shrink during childhood but enlarge again and increase their sebum output at puberty (apparently in response to male hormones), often leading to acne.

sebaceous gland [si′bā·shəs ′gland]

(physiology)

A gland, arising in association with a hair follicle, which produces and liberates sebum.

sebaceous gland (redirected from glandulae sebaceae)

sebaceous gland

sebaceous gland
(redirected from glandulae sebaceae)