Final answer:
Earwax is produced by ceruminous glands in the ear canal, not sudoriferous glands. Sudoriferous glands are involved in producing sweat, while ceruminous glands secrete substances that combine to form earwax, which prevents bacteria, fungi, and water from damaging the ear.
Step-by-step explanation:
Earwax is produced by ceruminous glands, which are specialized structures within the ear canal. Contrary to the listed option of sudoriferous glands, which produce sweat, the ceruminous glands secrete the wax that combines with dead skin cells and other secretions to form the substance we know as earwax. This wax serves several protective functions, including guarding against bacteria, fungi, and water.
Earwax is primarily a mixture of glycerol esters, cholesterol, and phospholipids, contributing to its unique properties that differ from other waxes such as petroleum-derived paraffin. It's essential to note that while the sudoriferous glands, such as eccrine and apocrine glands, do play vital roles in sweat production and thermoregulation, they are not responsible for the production of earwax.