Hair Anatomy

• Cuticle: The outermost layer, made of overlapping, flat cells that protect the inner layers.
• Cortex: The thick middle layer containing keratin fibers, which provide strength, color, and texture.
• Medulla: The innermost layer, present in some hair types, consisting of loosely arranged cells and air spaces.

Hair Follicle

• Bulb: The base of the hair follicle where the hair strand originates, containing living cells that divide to form the hair.
• Dermal Papilla: A structure at the base of the bulb that supplies blood and nutrients to the growing hair.
• Hair Matrix: A layer of rapidly dividing cells in the bulb that produces the hair shaft.

Other Structures

• Sebaceous Glands: Associated with hair follicles, these glands produce sebum, an oily substance that moisturizes and protects the hair and skin.
• Arrector Pili Muscles: Small muscles attached to hair follicles that contract in response to cold or fear, causing the hair to stand up (goosebumps).

Hair Types

• Hair can be classified into different types based on its texture, thickn