holocrine
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holocrine
[hol´o-krin]wholly secretory, denoting that type of glandular secretion in which the entire secreting cell, along with its accumulated secretion, forms the secreted matter of the gland, as in the sebaceous glands. See also apocrine and merocrine.
Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. © 2003 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.
hol·o·crine gland
a gland the secretion of which consists of disintegrated cells of the gland itself, for example, a sebaceous gland, in contrast to a merocrine gland.
Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
holocrine
(hŏl′ə-krĭn, -krīn′, -krēn′, hō′lə-)adj.
Of or relating to a gland whose output consists of disintegrated secretory cells along with the secretory product itself.
The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2007, 2004 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
hol·o·crine gland
(hol'ō-krin gland)A gland with secretion that consists of disintegrated cells of the gland itself, e.g., a sebaceous gland, in contrast to a merocrine gland.
Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing © Farlex 2012
holocrine
Pertaining to a gland whose secretion is a breakdown product of the gland's own lining cells. A sebaceous gland is a holocrine gland.Collins Dictionary of Medicine © Robert M. Youngson 2004, 2005
holocrine
- (of a form of cell digestion, particularly in insects) characterized by self-disintegration to produce the digestive fluid.
- (of gland secretion) characterized by self-disintegration in releasing its product, as in sebaceous glands.
Collins Dictionary of Biology, 3rd ed. © W. G. Hale, V. A. Saunders, J. P. Margham 2005