- Sweat
- A colorless transparent acidic fluid with a distinctive odor secreted by the small tubular sudoriferous (sweat) glands situated within the skin and under it in the subcutaneous tissue. The sweat glands discharge their fluid through tiny openings in the surface of the skin. Sweat contains fatty acids and mineral matter as well as a potent anti-infective agent dubbed dermicidin. The first antimicrobial agent discovered that is produced by cells in the skin, dermicidin is active against many different types of bacteria, including Escherichia coli (E. coli), Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus and the common fungus Candida albicans. Sweat is more politely called perspiration.
* * *Faye, 20th century pathologist. See Puchtler-S. stains. See Puchtler-S. stains.
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sweat 'swet vi, sweat or sweat·ed; sweat·ing to excrete moisture in visible quantities through the opening of the sweat glands: PERSPIREsweat n1) the fluid excreted from the sweat glands of the skin: PERSPIRATION* * *
n.the watery fluid secreted by the sweat gland. Its principal constituents in solution are sodium chloride and urea. The secretion of sweat is a means of excreting nitrogenous waste; at the same time it has a role in controlling the temperature of the body - the evaporation of sweat from the surface of the skin has a cooling effect. Therefore an increase in body temperature causes an increase in sweating. Other factors that increase the secretion of sweat include pain, nausea, nervousness, and drugs (diaphoretic). Sweating is reduced by colds, diarrhoea, and certain drugs. Anatomical name: sudor.* * *
(swet) 1. the liquid secreted by the sweat glands (glandulae sudoriferae), having a salty taste and a pH that varies from 4.5 to 7.5. That produced by the eccrine sweat glands is clear with a faint characteristic odor, and contains water, sodium chloride, and traces of albumin, urea, and other compounds; its composition varies according to factors such as fluid intake, external temperature and humidity, and some hormonal activity. Sweat produced by the larger, deeper, apocrine sweat glands of the axillae contains, in addition, organic material which on bacterial decomposition produces a strong odor. Called also perspiration. Cf. diaphoresis. 2. to secrete this fluid.
Medical dictionary. 2011.