The evolution of sweat glands (original) (raw)
Abstract
Mammals have two kinds of sweat glands, apocrine and eccrine, which provide for thermal cooling. In this paper we describe the distribution and characteristics of these glands in selected mammals, especially primates, and reject the suggested development of the eccrine gland from the apocrine gland during the Tertiary geological period. The evidence strongly suggests that the two glands, depending on the presence or absence of fur, have equal and similar functions among mammals; apocrine glands are not primitive. However, there is a unique and remarkable thermal eccrine system in humans; we suggest that this system evolved in concert with bipedalism and a smooth hairless skin.
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Authors and Affiliations
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
G. Edgar Folk Jr. - Department of Geology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
A. Semken Jr.
Authors
- G. Edgar Folk Jr.
- A. Semken Jr.
Additional information
Iowa Quaternary Studies Contribution No. 47
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Folk, G.E., Semken, A. The evolution of sweat glands.Int J Biometeorol 35, 180–186 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01049065
- Received: 15 November 1990
- Revised: 11 March 1991
- Accepted: 25 June 1991
- Issue date: September 1991
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01049065