Final answer:
Sudoriferous glands produce sweat to cool the body and assist in body heat regulation and waste excretion. They do not produce keratin, moisturize skin and hair, or synthesize vitamin D.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sudoriferous glands, commonly known as sweat glands, have a primary function of producing sweat. This sweat plays a significant role in body heat regulation by cooling the body when the temperature rises. The glands have ducts that carry the sweat to hair follicles or to the surface of the skin through pores. The process of sweating helps with thermoregulation, which is further supported by the dilation or constriction of blood vessels near the skin. In addition to cooling, sweat also assists in excreting small amounts of metabolic waste.
While sudoriferous glands contribute to the overall health of the skin, they are not primarily responsible for the production of keratin, keeping skin and hair cells soft and flexible, or the production of vitamin D. These functions are associated with other components of the integumentary system, like sebaceous glands that produce a moisturizing oil called sebum, or skin cells that contribute to vitamin D synthesis.