Hair shaft
Medical term · H
The portion of hair that extends beyond the surface of the skin. It contains three layers: the cuticle, cortex, and medulla (not always present).
Related terms
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CuticleThe outermost, single-cell layer of the hair shaft.
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MedullaRefers to the middle of something.
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CortexThe middle layer and main structure of the hair shaft, consisting mainly of compact bundles of the protein keratin.
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Dermal papillaA structure situated at the base of the hair follicle that contains nerves and blood vessels that fuel the cellular processes of the developing hair shaft.