Pronunciation: [lanjˈuːɡə͡ʊz] (IPA) 
The word "lanugos" is not a commonly used word in everyday conversation, but it refers to the fine, downy hair that covers a newborn baby's body. Its pronunciation is [luh-n-yoo-gohz], and it is spelled with a "g" followed by an "o" and then "s." The "g" is pronounced like a "j" in this case, and the "o" has a long "u" sound. This is a word that is often used in medical contexts, such as in discussions about premature babies.
Lanugos refer to the soft, fine hairs that cover the body of a fetus or newborn baby. These hairs are usually very short, delicate, and unpigmented, making them barely visible to the naked eye. The term "lanugos" is derived from the Latin word "lanugo," which means "down" or "downy."
Lanugos serve important functions during fetal development and the early stages of infancy. In the womb, lanugo hair aids in regulating the body temperature of the developing fetus by providing insulation. It helps to keep the baby warm by trapping the air close to the skin. In some cases, a lack of appropriate lanugo development can be an indication of underlying health conditions.
Typically, lanugo hair starts to appear on the fetus or newborn's body around the 5th or 6th month of pregnancy. It covers most of the body, including the face, back, arms, and legs. As the fetus grows and approaches the later stages of pregnancy, the lanugo hair is generally shed and replaced by thicker, coarser hairs known as vellus or terminal hairs.
In certain medical conditions, such as intrauterine growth restriction or anorexia nervosa, lanugos can persist beyond the fetal stage and continue to cover the body, even after birth. This excessive lanugo growth is referred to as lanugo or lanuginitis and may require medical attention.
The word "lanugos" has its origins in Latin. It comes from the Latin word "lanugo", which means "down" or "fine hair". In Latin, "lanugo" referred specifically to the fine hair covering the body of a fetus or newborn baby. Over time, the term "lanugos" came to be used in various scientific and medical contexts to describe the fine, soft hair that covers certain parts of the body.
