Which pairing of gland and secretion method is correct according to the material?

• A. Goblet cells — Holocrine
• B. Meibomian glands — Holocrine
• C. Lacrimal gland main — Merocrine
• D. Glands of Zeis — Merocrine

Answer: (C)

Secretion method describes how glands release their products without discarding the gland cells themselves. Merocrine secretion uses exocytosis to release the product, keeping the cell intact; holocrine secretion involves the whole cell disintegrating to release its contents; apocrine involves partial loss of cytoplasm with secretion.

Goblet cells release mucus by merocrine exocytosis, not by destroying the cell. Meibomian glands secrete lipids through holocrine secretion, where the secretory cells die to release their contents. The lacrimal gland main produces tears primarily via merocrine secretion, using vesicle fusion and exocytosis while the cells remain intact. Glands of Zeis (eyelash sebaceous glands) secrete by holocrine mechanism, with entire cells disintegrating to form the secretion.

Thus, the correct pairing is the lacrimal gland main with merocrine secretion.