Which term refers to the mammary glands that produce milk?

• A. Mammary
• B. Adrenal
• C. Pituitary
• D. Hypothalamus

Answer: (A)

The term that refers to the milk-producing glands is mammary. The mammary glands are specialized exocrine glands that synthesize and secrete milk, and the adjective “mammary” is used to describe those glands and their tissue. Other terms point to different parts of the endocrine system: adrenal glands sit on the kidneys and produce various hormones, the pituitary gland releases hormones (like prolactin) that stimulate milk production but does not itself make the milk, and the hypothalamus regulates the pituitary and other brain functions rather than directly producing milk. So, the word that best designates the milk-producing organs themselves is mammary.