What term is used to describe the glands that are commonly known as sweat glands and connect to hair follicles?

The term "sudoriferous" refers specifically to the glands that are commonly known as sweat glands. These glands play a vital role in regulating body temperature and helping to excrete waste products through perspiration. Sudoriferous glands are classified into two types: eccrine and apocrine. Eccrine glands are distributed throughout the body and are primarily involved in thermoregulation, while apocrine glands are found in certain areas, such as the armpits and groin, and become active during puberty.

The connection between these glands and hair follicles is particularly important because apocrine sweat glands typically have ducts that lead into hair follicles, allowing them to release their secretions directly onto the hair shaft.

The other terms mentioned do not accurately describe sweat glands. Papillary glands are not a recognized term in the context of skin physiology, reticular glands are not related to sweat, and sebaceous glands refer specifically to oil glands that secrete sebum into hair follicles. These distinctions reinforce why "sudoriferous" is the correct term for sweat glands.