What type of sweat do apocrine glands secrete?

Apocrine glands are specialized sweat glands predominantly found in specific areas of the body, such as the armpits and groin. They are responsible for secreting a thicker type of sweat, which differs from the thin and watery sweat produced by the eccrine glands. The secretion from apocrine glands is rich in proteins and fatty substances, which contributes to its thicker consistency.

This thicker sweat is also usually released in response to emotional stress or hormonal changes rather than temperature regulation, which is the primary function of eccrine sweat. When the sweat from apocrine glands is broken down by bacteria on the skin, it can lead to body odor, contrasting with the typically odorless sweat produced by eccrine glands. The nature of the secretion makes it distinctively thicker, setting apocrine sweat apart from the other types mentioned in the question.