Classification of Exocrine Glands

[Soaring Crane]

For exocrine glands, the portion of the gland that is described as simple or compound is the structure of the duct--not the secretory portion, right?

Thank you.

 

[jim mcnamara]

Ducts are simple or compound. Yes.

 

[Tsu]

Does this clear things up?

Exocrine glands contain a glandular portion and a duct portion, the structures of which can be used to classify the gland.

The duct portion may be branched (called compound) or unbranched (called simple).
The glandular portion may be tubular, acinar, or may be a mix of the two (called tubuloacinar). If the glandular portion branches, then the gland is called a branched gland.

Therefore, a compound gland has a ductal system that is branched and a simple gland has a non-branched ductal system.

This is also helpful in differentiating the secratory portions of the glands...
http://education.vetmed.vt.edu/curriculum/vm8054/Labs/Lab4/Notes/glndstruc.htm