Hawaii Massage License Practice Exam

Which of the following describes glands that secrete products into ducts?

1. Endocrine

2. Exocrine

3. Apocrine

4. Holocrine

The correct answer is: Exocrine

The correct choice, which describes glands that secrete products into ducts, is indeed exocrine glands. Exocrine glands play a vital role in various bodily functions by releasing their secretions through ducts directly onto surfaces or into body cavities. This includes glands such as sweat glands, salivary glands, and the pancreas (which releases digestive enzymes into the small intestine), demonstrating their function in providing localized effects. Endocrine glands, in contrast, release hormones directly into the bloodstream, allowing for systemic effects throughout the body. Apocrine and holocrine glands are specific types of exocrine glands; they define their secretion mechanisms but do not define the duct-functioning characteristic of exocrine glands as a whole. Apocrine glands release their product along with a portion of the gland cell, while holocrine glands release entire cells filled with secretion. These specialized methods relate to how exocrine glands function, further clarifying the role of exocrine glands in the context of ductal secretion.