| holocrine | Form of secretion in which the whole cell is shed from the gland, usually after becoming packed with the main secretory substance. In mammals, sebaceous glands are one of the few examples. (18 Nov 1997) |
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| holocrine gland | A gland whose secretion consists of disintegrated cells of the gland itself, e.g., a sebaceous gland, in contrast to a merocrine gland. (05 Mar 2000) |
| glands of internal secretion | Ductless glands that secrete substances which are released directly into the circulation and which influence metabolism and other body functions. (12 Dec 1998) |
| cytocrine secretion | The transfer of secretory material from one cell to another, such as the transfer of melanin granules from melanocytes to epidermal cells. (05 Mar 2000) |
| secretion | 1. <physiology> The process of elaborating a specific product as a result of the activity of a gland, this activity may range from separating a specific substance of the blood to the elaboration of a new chemical substance. 2. Any substance produced by secretion. Origin: L. Secretio, from secernere = to secrete (09 Oct 1997) |
| secretion vector | <molecular biology> A DNA vector in which the protein product is both expressed and secreted (excreted) from the cell. (09 Oct 1997) |
| stimulus secretion coupling | A term used to describe the events that link receipt of a stimulus with the release of materials from membrane bounded vesicles (the analogy is with excitation contraction coupling in the control of muscle contraction). A classical example is the link between membrane depolarisation at the presynaptic terminal and the release of neurotransmitter into the synaptic cleft. (18 Nov 1997) |
| neurohumoral secretion | Transmission of a nerve impulse across a synapse or to an end-organ by secretion of a minute amount of a chemical transmitter such as acetylcholine. (05 Mar 2000) |
| syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone | Continued secretion of antidiuretic hormone despite low serum osmolality and expanded extracellular volume. (05 Mar 2000) |
| external secretion | A substance formed by a cell and transported outside the cell walls as a means of ridding the cell of the substance or as a messenger to affect the function of other cells. (05 Mar 2000) |