Role of Sympathectomy for Hyperhidrosis

Abstract

Sweat glands are of two main types, eccrine and apocrine. Apocrine glands develop in association with hair follicles and play no part in thermoregulation. They are distributed in the axilla, perineum, and mammary areola and secrete a milky odourless fluid, are probably under the control of circulating adrenaline, and do not appear to be supplied by secretory nerves.1 On the other hand, eccrine glands are found throughout most of the skin—very dense on the palms and soles but less so in the head and neck, trunk, and upper arms and legs. They are situated deep in the dermis and secrete a dilute solution containing urea and lactic acid. The sodium chloride concentration varies according to the level of adrenocortical activity.2Eccrine glands are important in thermoregulation, are supplied by cholinergic fibres present in sympathetic nerves, and are inhibited by atropine. © 1971, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved.