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Exocrine gland

<p><b >Exocrine glands</b>&nbsp;are a type of&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duct_(anatomy)" title="Duct (anatomy)" >ductal</a>&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gland" title="Gland" >glands</a>&nbsp;that secrete their products (including digestive enzymes, and some&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hormone" title="Hormone" >hormone</a>&nbsp;chemical messengers) into ducts that lead directly into the external environment. They are the counterparts to&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endocrine_glands" title="Endocrine glands" class="mw-redirect" >endocrine glands</a>, which secrete their products (hormones) directly into the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood" title="Blood" >bloodstream</a>&nbsp;(<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ductless_gland" title="Ductless gland" >ductless glands</a>) or release hormones (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paracrine" title="Paracrine" class="mw-redirect" >paracrines</a>) that affect only target cells nearby the release site.

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<h2 >Examples</h2>

<p >Typical exocrine glands include&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweat_gland" title="Sweat gland" >sweat glands</a>,&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salivary_gland" title="Salivary gland" >salivary glands</a>,&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mammary_gland" title="Mammary gland" >mammary glands</a>,&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stomach" title="Stomach" >stomach</a>,&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liver" title="Liver" >liver</a>,&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pancreas" title="Pancreas" >pancreas</a>. (An example of an endocrine gland is the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adrenal_gland" title="Adrenal gland" >adrenal gland</a>, which is found on top of the kidneys and secretes the hormone&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adrenaline" title="Adrenaline" class="mw-redirect" >adrenaline</a>, among others).</p>

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