The eccrine sweat glands are the most abundant type of sweat glands in human skin, distributed widely across almost the entire body surface. Their primary function is thermoregulation through the secretion of a watery sweat that evaporates to cool the body. Unlike apocrine glands, which are limited to specific areas (e.g., axilla), eccrine glands open directly onto the skin surface. This widespread distribution and functional importance in temperature control make eccrine glands the predominant sweat gland type in humans. Surgically, preservation of eccrine glands is critical in procedures involving skin grafts or flaps to maintain thermoregulatory capacity.

Reference: Gray’s Anatomy, Standring S., 42nd Edition.