Article
Article
Scent gland
Article By:
Nelsen, Olin E. Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Last reviewed:June 2020
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.605300
A specialized skin gland of the tubuloalveolar or acinous variety found in many mammals. These glands produce substances having peculiar odors. In some instances they are large, in others small. Examples of large glands are the civet gland in the civet cat, the musk gland in the musk deer, and the castoreum gland in the beaver. The civet gland is an anal gland, whereas the musk and castoreum are preputial. Examples of small scent glands are the preputial or Tyson's glands in the human male which secrete the smegma, and the vulval glands in the female. The secretions in all of the above glands are sebaceous.
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