Like their eccrine counterparts, apocrine glands have a coiled secretory portion deep in the dermis. However, the duct leading from the apocrine gland, rather than opening directly onto the skin surface, it opens into the hair follicle above the entrance of the sebaceous duct. Myoepithelial cells, surrounding the gland, help to force the secretions outward. Apocrine glands continuously produce their secretions. The gland is largely under hormonal influences but its duct is innervated by sympathetic adrenergic neurons.
Apocrine glands are androgenresponsive structure that become active at puberty.
They contain large quantities of 5 alpha-reductase. Their function is presumed to be the production of sexual olfactory messages. Hair Follicle - The hair follicle consists of the hair surrounded by an epithelial sheath that is continuous with the epidermis. Except for its dermal papilla which contains connective tissue and blood vessels, the rest of the hair follicle is composed of epidermal cells. The bulb, at the lower end of the hair follicle, is the thickest part.