Question

Ceruminous or wax producing glands are modified
A. Apocrine sweat glands
B. Merocrine sweat glands
C. Holocrine sebaceous glands
D. Apocrine sebaceous glands

Answer 1

Ceruminous are known for their sweat secretion in the body, these are specific sudoriferous organs meaning sweat organs which are found subcutaneously in the outside hear able trench. They are situated in the EAM and inner pinna lower portion.

Complete answer:

Ceruminous or wax producing glands are modified apocrine sebaceous gland.
They are found in the external 1/3 outside trench and consist of the secretory epithelium.
Ceruminous organs are straightforward, they are looped, cylindrical organs composed of an internal secretory layer of cells and an external myoepithelial layer of cells.
They have large deep ducts which are circularly coiled.
They can make the eardrum pliable.
Their secretion cleans the ear and lubricates the pathway.
The glands drain into ducts which later drain into hairs present in the external auditory canal.
They produce cerumen.
Cerumen consists of earwax with the dead epithelium cells in it and their secretion is mixed with the sebum.
It helps in killing the unwanted bacteria present inside or on the pathway, it hydrates or waterproof the canal.
They also act as a barrier for the unwanted particles and pathogens such as fungal spores, bacterial spores by making the ear pathway sticky.

The correct option is ( D ) that is Apocrine sebaceous glands.

Note: They provide a defence mechanism by secreting the sticky wax which makes the pathway sticky and if the fungus, bacteria, dust or another particle which are not necessary or needed entered they get stuck to the wax or get engulfed in it due to which they are not able to move further, get stuck there and then is eliminated by earbud or ear cleaning process.