A secretion that provides a protective oily covering for skin is

Options

A. Sterols , hydrocarbons and waxes
B. Sweat
C. Sebum
D. Both (a) and (c )

Answer

**Step-by-Step Text Solution:**

1. **Understanding the Question**: The question asks for a secretion that provides a protective oily covering for the skin.

2. **Identifying the Options**: The options provided are:
- A) Sterols, hydrocarbons, and waxes
- B) Sweat
- C) Sebum
- D) Both A and C

3. **Analyzing the Options**:
- **Option A**: Sterols, hydrocarbons, and waxes are components that can be found in skin secretions but do not directly provide the oily covering.
- **Option B**: Sweat is primarily for thermoregulation and excretion, not for providing an oily covering.
- **Option C**: Sebum is an oily substance produced by sebaceous glands that provides a protective coating for the skin.
- **Option D**: This option states that both A and C are correct, which implies that the oily covering comes from both sebum and the components listed in A.

4. **Conclusion**: The primary secretion that provides a protective oily covering for the skin is sebum. While sterols, hydrocarbons, and waxes are part of the composition of sebum, the main answer to the question is sebum itself. However, since the question asks for a secretion that provides a protective covering, the correct answer is D (both A and C are correct) as it acknowledges the role of sebum and its components.

5. **Final Answer**: The correct answer is D) Both A and C are correct.

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