Which glands in the pubic and underarm areas secrete thicker sweat that produces odor when bacteria on the skin interact?

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

Answer: (B)

Apocrine glands produce the thicker, milky sweat in the pubic and underarm areas. This sweat is rich in proteins and lipids and is released into hair follicles. When skin bacteria break down these substances, they generate odorous compounds, which is why this area tends to develop body odor. In contrast, eccrine glands, found all over the body, release a clear, watery sweat mainly for cooling and don’t typically cause odor. Sebaceous glands secrete oily sebum for lubrication, not sweat, and ceruminous glands in the ear canal produce earwax.