Eccrine Glands
Definition
The primary sweat glands distributed across most body surfaces, producing a watery secretion mainly of water, sodium chloride, and trace amounts of protein. The principal source of touch-deposited sweat in forensic scenarios.
- Distribution
- Most body surfaces
- Secretion type
- Watery, sodium chloride, trace protein
- Forensic role
- Principal source of touch-deposited sweat
- Contrast
- Apocrine glands (oilier, restricted distribution)
Common questions
How do eccrine glands differ from apocrine glands in forensic relevance?+
Eccrine glands are distributed across almost the whole body and produce a watery secretion that dominates fingerprint and touch DNA deposits, while apocrine glands are restricted to areas such as the armpit and produce an oilier secretion with different odour and chemical markers.
Why does eccrine sweat composition matter for latent print chemistry?+
Its water, salt, amino acid and lactic acid content forms the base residue that print development techniques, such as ninhydrin or cyanoacrylate fuming, are chemically designed to react with, so its composition directly shapes which visualisation method will work on a given surface.
Related terms
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- RSID-Urine
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