Which glands produce sweat and are found over most of the body?

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

Answer: (B)

Sweat gland types differ by location and secretion, and the key idea here is which glands are spread across most of the skin to help with cooling. The glands that produce a watery, clear secretion used for thermoregulation and are distributed over virtually the entire body are the eccrine glands. They’re found on the forehead, back, limbs, palms, soles—wide coverage that makes them the primary sweat producers for cooling through evaporation. In contrast, sebaceous glands secrete oily sebum to lubricate hair and skin and aren’t sweat glands. Apocrine glands do produce sweat, but they’re concentrated in limited areas like the armpits and groin and are associated with body odor rather than broad, body-wide cooling. Ceruminous glands are specialized for producing earwax in the ear canal. So, the glands that both produce sweat and are found over most of the body are eccrine glands.