Which gland is typically inactive until puberty and primarily responsible for body odor?

Which gland is typically inactive until puberty and primarily responsible for body odor?

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

Answer: (B)

Body odor mainly comes from apocrine sweat glands. These glands sit in areas like the underarms and groin and open into hair follicles. They stay relatively quiet until puberty, when hormonal changes, especially increased androgens, boost their activity. The sweat they produce is thicker and rich in proteins and lipids, and when skin bacteria break down this material, odor results. In contrast, eccrine glands are active from birth and produce a watery sweat primarily for cooling, so they aren’t the primary source of odor. Sebaceous glands make oil (sebum) for lubrication, not odor, and ceruminous glands in the ear canal produce earwax.

Body odor mainly comes from apocrine sweat glands. These glands sit in areas like the underarms and groin and open into hair follicles. They stay relatively quiet until puberty, when hormonal changes, especially increased androgens, boost their activity. The sweat they produce is thicker and rich in proteins and lipids, and when skin bacteria break down this material, odor results. In contrast, eccrine glands are active from birth and produce a watery sweat primarily for cooling, so they aren’t the primary source of odor. Sebaceous glands make oil (sebum) for lubrication, not odor, and ceruminous glands in the ear canal produce earwax.