Eccrine sweat glands are simple coiled tubular glands located in the deep dermis or underlying hypodermis and are present throughout the body. Their primary function is evaporative cooling. They develop as invaginations of the epithelium of the dermal ridge. They grow into the dermis with its deep aspect becoming the glandular portion of the sweat gland. Eccrine sweat glands are simple coils of cuboidal epithelium containing two kinds of cells.
Myoepitheial cells support and constrict the gland in response to cholinergic stimulation.
Secretion is controlled by heat stress in most of the body but is under emotional control in palms and soles. Apocrine sweat glands are simple tubular glands that empty into hair follicles in axillary and anogenital regions. The secretion is a mixture of proteins, carbohydrates, and ferric ions that is odorless when secreted, but is acted on by commensal bacteria. Young and Heath, Chapter 9.