Ma'anar ƙamus na kalmar "apocrine" ita ce: alaƙa da ko nuna wani gland a cikin fata wanda ke ɓoye wani ruwa mai ɗanɗano a cikin ƙwayar gashi, yawanci ana kunna shi ta hanyar damuwa, wanda ake samu kawai a cikin wasu dabbobi masu shayarwa. Hakanan yana iya komawa ga nau'in glandar gumi da ke samar da wannan ruwa mai ɗanɗano, sabanin sauran ƙwayoyin gumi na eccrine da ke haifar da ɓoyewar ruwa.