Exocrine gland

Exocrine glands are a type of ductal glands that secrete their products (including digestive enzymes, and some hormone chemical messengers) into ducts that lead directly into the external environment.

They are the counterparts to endocrine glands, which secrete their products (hormones) directly into the bloodstream (ductless glands) or release hormones (paracrines) that affect only target cells nearby the release site.

Examples

Typical exocrine glands include sweat glands, salivary glands, mammary glands, stomach, liver, pancreas. (An example of an endocrine gland is the adrenal gland, which is found on top of the kidneys and secretes the hormone adrenaline, among others).