HAIR FOLLICLE Meaning and
Definition
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A hair follicle refers to a small sac-like structure located in the skin that produces and nurtures the hair. It serves as the root of the hair strand, anchoring it into the skin. The hair follicle can be found all over the body, except for the soles of the feet and the palms of the hands.
Each hair follicle consists of several layers. At the base of the follicle is the hair bulb, which contains special cells that divide and reproduce rapidly. These cells then become keratinized, resulting in the formation of the hair strand. Surrounding the hair bulb is the dermal papilla, a cluster of connective tissue responsible for supplying oxygen and nutrients to the rapidly dividing cells.
Within the hair follicle structure, there are also sebaceous glands, which are responsible for producing sebum, an oily substance that moisturizes and conditions the hair and skin. These glands also play a role in helping to keep the hair shaft lubricated.
The lifespan of a hair follicle varies from person to person, with each hair strand going through a cycle of growth, rest, and shedding. The growth phase, known as anagen, can last for several years, but eventually transitions into the resting phase, or telogen. During this stage, the hair follicle detaches from the hair strand, resulting in hair shedding. Afterward, the cycle starts anew, with a new hair strand growing from the same follicle.
Overall, the hair follicle is an essential component of the skin responsible for hair production, anchoring, and nourishment.
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• Folliculus pili; a cylindrical pit dipping down through the corium into the subcutaneous connective tissue; it contains the root of the hair. The outer or dermic coat consists of three layers: an outer longitudinal, a middle transverse, and an inner vitreous or homogeneous; the internal or epidermic coat is formed of the mucous layer of the epidermis; the root sheath has two layers-of Henle and of Huxley, and finally the follicle is lined with a thin layer of cells, the cuticle of the root-sheath.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for HAIR FOLLICLE
- gair follicle
- bair follicle
- nair follicle
- jair follicle
- uair follicle
- yair follicle
- hzir follicle
- hsir follicle
- hwir follicle
- hqir follicle
- haur follicle
- hajr follicle
- hakr follicle
- haor follicle
- ha9r follicle
- ha8r follicle
- haie follicle
- haid follicle
- haif follicle
Etymology of HAIR FOLLICLE
The word "hair follicle" has its etymology rooted in Latin and Old English.
The term "hair" originated from the Old English word "hǣr", which meant hair. It can be traced back further to the Proto-Germanic word "khæran", and ultimately to the Proto-Indo-European root "*ker-", meaning "hair".
The word "follicle" comes from the Latin word "folliculus", which meant a small sack or pouch. It is a diminutive form of "folium", meaning leaf.
Therefore, the word "hair follicle" combines the Old English term for hair, "hǣr", with the Latin word for small sack or pouch, "folliculus", to describe the structure that encloses and nourishes a hair strand.
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