Final answer:
The glands responsible for excreting perspiration, regulating body temperature, and detoxifying the body are the sudoriferous glands, specifically eccrine sweat glands which help with thermoregulation through sweat production.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sudoriferous Glands and Thermoregulation
The glands that excrete perspiration, regulate body temperature, and detoxify the body are known as sudoriferous glands. These glands are responsible for producing sweat, which is a critical part of the body's mechanism for thermoregulation. Sudoriferous glands are classified as merocrine glands, meaning that their secretions are excreted by exocytosis through a duct onto the skin surface without affecting the cells of the gland itself.
There are two main types of sudoriferous glands: eccrine and apocrine. Eccrine sweat glands are found all over the skin and are particularly abundant on the palms, soles of the feet, and forehead. They produce a hypotonic, watery sweat comprised mostly of water, with some salt, antibodies, traces of metabolic waste, and dermicidin. The apocrine glands, on the other hand, are associated with hair follicles and release a lipid-rich substance that contributes to body odor.
During periods of increased body temperature, whether due to environmental heat or physical activity, the eccrine sweat glands are stimulated by the sympathetic nervous system to produce sweat. This sweat, when evaporated, cools the body—a key aspect of thermoregulation. Hence, the correct answer to the question is (a) sudoriferous.