Why do we have apocrine and sebaceous glands?
The secretions of sebaceous and apocrine glands fulfil an important thermoregulatory role in cold-stressed and heat-stressed hunter-gatherers. In hot conditions the secretions emulsify eccrine sweat and thus encourage the formation of a sweat sheet and discourage the formation and loss of sweat drops from the skin. In colder conditions sebum changes its nature and repels rain from skin and hair.
Porter
A M
AM
Redcrest, Health Rise, Camberley, Surrey GU15 2ER, UK.
D000818:Animals; D001050:Apocrine Glands / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005075:Biological Evolution; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D012627:Sebaceous Glands / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D012629:Sebum / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D013542:Sweat / Q000502:physiology