Table 1.
The anatomical distribution (alphabetical order) and densities of human eccrine sweat glands (glands.cm−2)
| Sites | Gland density | Data sets (N) |
|---|---|---|
| Abdomen (non-specific) |
141 (37) |
3 (40) |
| Abdomen (umbilicus) |
82 (21) |
2 (40) |
| Axilla |
93 (22) |
4 (37) |
| Back (lumbar) |
132 (110) |
2 (2) |
| Back (scapula) |
106 (43) |
4 (43) |
| Chest (breast) |
21 (14) |
2 (34) |
| Chest (non-specific) |
91 (50) |
6 (43) |
| Chest (sternal) |
88 (25) |
2 (32) |
| Finger (dorsal: distal phalanx) |
126 (75) |
2 (28) |
| Finger (dorsal: middle phalanx) |
259 (44) |
2 (33) |
| Finger (dorsal: proximal phalanx) |
261 (20) |
2 (39) |
| Finger (volar: distal phalanx) |
350 (5) |
2 (21) |
| Foot (dorsal) |
155 (59) |
6 (54) |
| Foot (volar: sole) |
294 (151) |
5 (41) |
| Forearm (dorsal) |
108 (45) |
4 (41) |
| Forearm (ventral) |
159 (54) |
8 (74) |
| Hand (dorsal) |
176 (79) |
5 (46) |
| Hand (volar: palm) |
241 (115) |
4 (24) |
| Head (cheek) |
113 (116) |
4 (53) |
| Head (chin) |
122 (56) |
5 (51) |
| Head (ear) |
140 (−−−) |
1 (10) |
| Head (eyebrow) |
61 (16) |
4 (43) |
| Head (eyelid) |
190 (−−−) |
1 (1) |
| Head (forehead) |
155 (78) |
2 (2) |
| Head (nose) |
155 (−−−) |
1 (1) |
| Head (scalp: hairy surface) |
195 (58) |
4 (48) |
| Head (scalp: non-hairy surface) |
70 (−−−) |
1 (1) |
| Head (upper lip) |
132 (40) |
3 (53) |
| Leg (lateral) |
115 (51) |
3 (44) |
| Leg (medial) |
114 (37) |
5 (53) |
| Neck (non-specific) |
126 (109) |
5 (39) |
| Pelvis (buttock) |
112 (41) |
5 (50) |
| Pelvis (pubic) |
113 (56) |
4 (43) |
| Pelvic (scrotum) |
46 (67) |
2 (2) |
| Thigh (anterior) |
122 (39) |
4 (62) |
| Thigh (lateral) |
102 (18) |
3 (46) |
| Thigh (medial) |
89 (−−−) |
1 (1) |
| Thigh (posterior) |
31 (−−−) |
1 (1) |
| Toe (volar: distal phalanx) |
540 (−−−) |
1 (1) |
| Upper arm (dorsal) |
102 (45) |
3 (45) |
| Upper arm (ventral) | 94 (42) | 5 (50) |
Data are means derived from six studies with confidence intervals derived across studies (95% (in parenthesis)) when counts were obtained from more than one data set. For most sites, many data sets were used, and these are indicated in the rightmost column, with the combined sample size for each site in parenthesis. About 5%–10% of these glands are physiologically inactive [65,66]. Sources: Krause [23], Szabo [67], Garcia et al. [68], Hwang and Baik [69], Glaser [83] and Cauna [84]. Calculations: Glandular density for each region was derived as follows: regional density = ((N1 × density1) + (N2 × density2) + … (Ni × densityi)) / NTotal (where N is the sample size and subscript numerals refer to separate studies).