Body odor
Body Odor
Body odor (American English) or body odour (British English; see spelling differences) is the perceived unpleasant smell our bodies can give off when bacteria that live on the skin break down sweat into acids. It is also known as B.O., bromhidrosis, osmidrosis, or ozochrotia.
Pronunciation
- Body odor: /ˈbɒdi ˈoʊdər/
Etymology
The term "body odor" is derived from the Latin words "corpus" meaning body and "odor" meaning smell. The term "bromhidrosis" is derived from the Greek "bromos" meaning stench and "hidros" meaning sweat.
Definition
Body odor is a perceived unpleasant smell our bodies can give off when the bacteria that live on the skin break down sweat into acids - a process called bacterial fermentation. It is influenced by many factors including genetics, diet, gender, health status, and medication use.
Causes
Body odor is primarily generated in the area under the arms where there is a high concentration of sweat glands. Other areas that can produce body odor include the genitals, feet, liver, kidneys, and skin. The main types of sweat glands that contribute to body odor include eccrine glands and apocrine glands.
Related Terms
- Sweat glands: These are small tubular structures of the skin that produce sweat.
- Eccrine glands: These glands are found all over the body and produce a clear, odorless substance, sweat, which is primarily water.
- Apocrine glands: These glands are found in the breasts, genital area, eyelids, armpits, and ear. They produce a thick, milky secretion in response to stressors.
- Fermentation: This is a metabolic process that consumes sugar in the absence of oxygen. The products are organic acids, gases, or alcohol.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Body odor
- Wikipedia's article - Body odor
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