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.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Belding HS, Russell HD, Darling RC, Folk GE Jr (1947) Analysis of factors concerned in maintaining energy balance for dressed men in extreme cold; effects of activity on the protective value and comfort of an arctic uniform. Am J Physiol 149:223–239
Bullard RW, Dill DB, Yousef MK (1970) Responses of the burro to desert heat stress. J Appl Physiol 29:159–167
Carroll RL (1987) Vertebrate paleontology and evolution. WH Freeman, New York
Cena K, Monteith JL (1975) Transfer processes in animal coats. II. Conduction and convection. Proc R Soc Lond B 188:395–411
Ciochon RL, Fleagle JG (1987) Primate evolution and human origins. Aldine DeGruyter, New York.
Clark G (1967) The stone age hunters. McGraw, London, p 20
Clark JA, Cena K, Monteith JL (1973) Measurements of the local heat balance of animal coasts and human clothing. J Appl Physiol 35:751–754
Clark JA, Cena K, Monteith JL (1973) Measurements of the local heat balance of animal coats and human clothing. J Appl Physiol 35:751–754
Eichna LW, Ashe WF, Bean WB, Shelley WB (1945) The upper limits of environmental heat and humidity tolerated by acclimatized men working in hot environment. J Indust Hygiene Toxicol 27:59–84
Fleagle JG (1988) Primate adaptation and evolution. Academic Press, New York
Folk GE Jr (1974) Textbook of environmental physiology, 2nd edn. Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia
Gebremedhin KG (1985) Heat exchange of livestock. In: Yousef MK (ed) Stress physiology in livestock. CRC, Boca Raton, pp 15–33
Gisolfi CV, Sato K, Wall PT, Sato F (1982) In vivo and in vitro characteristics of eccrine sweating in patas and rhesus monkeys. J Appl Physiol 53:425–431
Gisolfi CV, Sato K, Wall PT (1985) Monkey model and techniques for studying eccrine sweating in man. In: Mailback HI, Low NJ (eds) Models in dermatology. Karger, New York, pp 117–125
Harrison RJ, Montagna W (1969) Man. Appleton-Century-Crofts, New York
Kuno Y (1956) Human perspiration. Thomas, Springfield
Ladell WS, Waterlow JC, Hudson MF (1944) Desert climate: physiological and clinical observations. Lancet 2:491–497
Leidal R, Rapini R, Sato F, Tung H, Sato K (1982) Evolution and development of human axillary sweat glands. J Invest Dermatol 78:352
Montagna W, Parakkal PF (1974) The structure and function of skin, 3rd edn. Academic Press, New York
Moss KN (1924) Some effects of high air temperatures and muscular exertion upon colliers. Proc R Soc Lond B 95:181–200
Philbeam D (1984) The descent of hominoid and hominids. Sci Am 250:84–96
Robertshaw D (1985) Sweat and heat exchange in man and other mammals. J Hum Evol 14:63–73
Sato K, Leidal R, Sato F (1987) Morphology and development of an apocrine sweat gland in human axillae. Am J Physiol 252:R166–180
Sato F, Owen M, Matthes R, Sato K, Gisolfi CV (1990) Functional and morphological changes in the eccrine sweat gland with heat acclimation. J Appl Physiol 69:232–236
Schmidt-Nielsen L (1964) Desert animals, Oxford University Press, UK
Schwartz GG, Rosenblum LA (1981) Allometry of primate hair density and the evolution of human hairlessness. Am J Physical Anthropol 55:9–12
Shkolnik A, Taylor CR, Finch V (1980) Why do Bedouins wear black robes in hot deserts? Nature 283:373–375
Szaley FS, Delson E (1979) Evolutionary history of the primates. Academic Press, New York
Van Eysinga FWB (1975) Geologic time table, 3rd edn. Elsevier, Amsterdam
Whittow GC (1971) Comparative physiology of thermoregulation. II. Mammals. Academic Press, New York
Woodburne MO (1987) Cenozoic mammals of North America, geochronology and biostratigraphy. University of California Press, Berkeley
Yousef MK, Dill DB (1969) Energy expenditure in desert walks: man and burroEquus asinus. J Appl Physiol 27:681–683
Yousef MK, Dill DB, Mayes MG (1970) Shifts in body fluids during dehydration in the burro,Equus asinus. J appl Physiol 29:345–349
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Iowa Quaternary Studies Contribution No. 47
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Folk, G.E., Semken, A. The evolution of sweat glands. Int J Biometeorol 35, 180–186 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01049065
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01049065