What type of gland is stimulated during stress and secretes into hair follicles?

The correct choice is apocrine sweat glands, which are primarily stimulated during periods of stress or emotional excitement. These glands are associated with hair follicles and release a thicker, milky secretion that is rich in proteins and lipids.

Apocrine glands are mainly located in areas with a lot of hair follicles, such as the armpits and groin. Their activity increases in response to stress, making them notably different from eccrine sweat glands, which are responsible primarily for thermoregulation and secrete a watery sweat directly onto the skin surface rather than into hair follicles.

Sebaceous glands, on the other hand, secrete sebum to lubricate and protect the skin and hair but are not primarily stimulated by stress. Ceruminous glands are specialized glands found in the ear canal that produce earwax (cerumen) and do not play a role in stress response through secretion into hair follicles. Thus, the correct answer highlights the specific function of apocrine sweat glands in relation to stress and their unique connection to hair follicles.