Moll's gland, also known as the gland of Moll or ciliary gland, is a modified
apocrine sweat gland
Sweat glands, also known as sudoriferous or sudoriparous glands, , are small tubular structures of the skin that produce sweat. Sweat glands are a type of exocrine gland, which are glands that produce and secrete substances onto an epithelial sur ...
that is found on the margin of the
eyelid. They are next to the base of the
eyelashes, and anterior to the
meibomian glands within the distal eyelid margin. These glands are relatively large and tubular-shaped. The glands of Moll are named after Dutch
oculist Jacob Anton Moll (1832–1914).
Glands of Moll empty into the adjacent lashes. Glands of Moll and
Zeis secrete
sebum that keeps lashes supple.
The glands of Moll are prone to infection and blockage of its duct with sebum and cell debris. Blockage of the gland's duct causes swelling which can manifest itself as a
stye.
See also
*
Meibomian gland
*
List of specialized glands within the human integumentary system
References
American Family Physician, Eyelid Disorders: Diagnosis and Management
Human eye anatomy
Glands
Anatomy named for one who described it
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