Which glands are involved in body odor?

• A. Apocrine
• B. Eccrine
• C. Sebaceous
• D. Ceruminous

Answer: (A)

Body odor comes mainly from the secretions of apocrine glands. These glands are located in areas with hair, like the armpits and groin, and their sweat is thicker and richer in proteins and lipids. When skin bacteria break down these secretions, they produce volatile compounds that give rise to the characteristic odor. In contrast, eccrine glands—responsible for the watery sweat used to cool the body—produce odorless fluid and don’t contribute to the smell in the same way. Sebaceous glands secrete oil (sebum) and aren’t a primary source of body odor, and ceruminous glands make earwax. So, the gland most involved in body odor is the apocrine gland.