An exocrine gland is a gland that secretes substances intended to be expelled from the body into the external environment, that is to say for example in the skin, the digestive tract or the respiratory tree. The exocrine glands deliver their secretion via an excretory duct. Some examples of the exocrine gland are salivary glands, sweat gland. mucous gland.
They are distinguished from endocrine glands that directly release their secretions into the bloodstream at the blood capillaries (still inside the body).
Some exocrine glands also have a role of endocrine gland, they are called amphicrine glands (like pancreas).
