What is the Difference Between Ceruminous and Meibomian Glands

The key difference between ceruminous and meibomian glands is that ceruminous glands are a type of sudoriferous glands located subcutaneously in the external auditory canal, while meibomian glands are a type of sebaceous glands located along the rims of the eyelid inside the tarsal plate.

There are different types of exocrine glands in the human body, such as sudoriferous glands and meibomian glands. Sudoriferous glands (sweat glands) produce sweat. There are two types of sweat glands: eccrine and apocrine. Sebaceous glands (oil glands) discharge a waxy, oily substance called sebum into the hair follicles that lubricate the hair shaft and skin. Therefore, ceruminous glands are a type of sudoriferous glands in the body, while meibomian glands are a type of sebaceous glands in the body.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What are Ceruminous Glands
3. What are Meibomian Glands
4. Similarities – Ceruminous and Meibomian Glands
5. Ceruminous vs Meibomian Glands in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Ceruminous vs Meibomian Glands

What are Ceruminous Glands?

Ceruminous glands are a type of sudoriferous glands (sweat glands) located subcutaneously in the external auditory canal. These glands are simple, coiled, and tubular glands. They are made up of an inner secretory layer of cells and an outer myoepithelial layer of cells. Ceruminous glands are classified as apocrine type sudoriferous glands. Ceruminous glands normally drain into larger ducts, which later drain into the guard hairs located in the external auditory canal.

Ceruminous glands produce cerumen (earwax) by mixing their secretion with sebum and dead epidermal cells. Cerumen has various functions. It keeps the eardrum pliable, lubricates and cleans the external auditory canal. It also waterproofs the auditory canal and kills bacteria as well. Moreover, it serves as a barrier that traps foreign particles such as dust, fungal spores, etc., by coating guard hairs. The cerumen makes guard hairs sticky. Benign and malignant tumors can develop in ceruminous glands. Benign tumors include ceruminous adenoma, ceruminous pleomorphic adenoma, and ceruminous syringocyctadenoma papilliferum. Malignant tumors include ceruminous adenocarcinoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma, and mucoepidermoid carcinoma.

What are Meibomian Glands?

Meibomian glands are a type of sebaceous glands located along the rims of the eyelid inside the tarsal plate. They are oil (meibum) glands. They make oil, which is an important part of the tears of eyes. The tear film has three layers: oily layer, watery layer, and mucous layer. The oil layer is the outside of the tear film. It keeps tears from drying up too quickly. Meibum also prevents tears from spilling onto the cheek and traps tears between the oiled edge and the eyeball. There are about 25 meibomian glands on the upper eyelid and 20 meibomian glands on the lower eyelid.

Moreover, dysfunctional meibomian glands are the most common cause of dry eyes. They are also the cause of posterior blepharitis. Furthermore, they are also a cause for Sjogren’s syndrome.

What are the Similarities Between Ceruminous and Meibomian Glands?

• Ceruminous and meibomian glands are exocrine glands in the human body.
• Both types of glands produce secretions.
• These types of glands are involved in important bodily functions.
• Dysfunction of both types of glands causes diseases.

What is the Difference Between Ceruminous and Meibomian Glands?

Ceruminous glands are a type of sudoriferous glands located subcutaneously in the external auditory canal, while meibomian glands are a type of sebaceous glands located along the rims of the eyelid inside the tarsal plate. Thus, this is the key difference between ceruminous and meibomian glands. Furthermore, ceruminous glands produce cerumen while meibomian glands produce meibum.

The below infographic presents the differences between ceruminous and meibomian glands in tabular form for side by side comparison.

Summary – Ceruminous vs Meibomian Glands

Ceruminous and meibomian glands are exocrine glands in the human body. Ceruminous glands are a type of sudoriferous glands located subcutaneously in the external auditory canal, while meibomian glands are a type of sebaceous glands located along the rims of the eyelid inside the tarsal plate. So, this is the key difference between ceruminous and meibomian glands.

Reference:

1. “Meibomian Gland.” An Overview | ScienceDirect Topics.
2. “Ceruminous Gland.” An Overview | ScienceDirect Topics.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Anatomy of the Human Ear” By Lars Chittka; Axel Brockmann – Perception Space—The Final Frontier, A PLoS Biology Vol. 3, No. 4, e137 doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.0030137 (Fig. 1A/Large version), vectorised by Inductiveload (CC BY 2.5) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Meibomian-glands” By Vinum opus – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia