Arizona Esthetics State Board Practice Exam

Eccrine glands are most abundant in all of the following areas EXCEPT:

1. Forehead

2. Underarm area

3. Soles of the feet

4. Palms of the hands

The correct answer is: Underarm area

Eccrine glands are sweat glands that are distributed widely across the body, particularly in areas where thermoregulation is essential. They play a significant role in temperature regulation and help to keep the skin cool during heat or exertion. The forehead, soles of the feet, and palms of the hands are all areas where eccrine glands are notably abundant. For instance, the palms and soles have a high concentration of these glands to aid in grip and thermal regulation. In contrast, while the underarm area does contain sweat glands, it is primarily characterized by apocrine glands, which become active during puberty and are associated with body odor. Apocrine glands are less involved in cooling the body compared to eccrine glands. This distinction highlights that, although the underarm area does have the ability to sweat, it is not as heavily populated with eccrine glands as the other areas listed. Thus, the underarm area is the least abundant in terms of eccrine gland presence.