[The morphogenesis and functional control of sebaceous glands with reference to free sebaceous glands]

Not very much was known until now about the physiology of sebaceous glands--especially about the regulation of their function. The author divides primary stimuli for the function of sebaceous glands during lifetime from secondary stimuli for the common supply of sebum. Other primary stimuli are a hypophysial sebotropic factor and other hormones of the gonads and adrenal glands. Capillary attraction and the autonomous system (in a low degree) belong to the secondary stimuli. Following the opinion of renowned authors sebaceous glands and production of sebum are just a special secretoric function of the epidermis. The author voices the hypothesis that androgens can stimulate epidermal basal cells to form sebaceous glands and to produce sebum. This is only possible under certain circumstances, above all only in non-keratinised epidermis.