On the underside of the arm, the glands enlarge and function in adolescence?

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

Answer: (D)

The glands in the armpit that enlarge and become active during adolescence are apocrine glands. These sweat glands are concentrated in the axilla and groin and are stimulated by rising androgens at puberty. They secrete a thicker, milky fluid into hair follicles, and the odor we associate with body scent comes from bacteria breaking down this secretion on the skin. In contrast, eccrine glands are spread all over the body and mainly handle cooling through clear, watery sweat from birth; ceruminous glands are in the ear canal producing earwax; sebaceous glands produce oily sebum for hair follicles and can enlarge with puberty but aren’t the glands primarily responsible for axillary maturation.