STRUCTURE OF HAIR

13

STRUCTURE OF HAIR:

Hairs are elongated keratinized structures derived from an

invagination of the epidermal epithelium. Their colour, size, and deposition
are variable according to race age, sex and the region of the body. Each hair
arises from an epidermal invagination, the hair follicle, which has during its
growth period a terminal dilatation called die hair bulb. At the base of the
hair bulb, a dermal papilla can be observed. The dermal papilla contains a
capillary network, which is vital in sustaining the hair follicle. The
epidermal cells covering this dermal papilla form the hair root that produces
and is continuous with the hair shaft, which protrudes beyond the skin. The
hair is composed entirely of epithelial cells which are arranged in three
definite layers of the medulla, cortex and cuticle (Rolandleeson et al, 1985).

The medulla:
In certain types of thick hairs, the cells of the central region of the root

at the apex of the dermal papilla produce large vacuolated and moderately
keratinized cells that form the medulla of the hair. The medulla forms the
central axis of the hair, varying in thickness from 16 - 20um. It consists of 2
or 3 layers of cells, which vary, in appearance in different parts of the hair.
In the lower portion of the root of the hair, the cells are cuboidal and have

rounded nuclei. In the shaft, the cells of the medulla are comified and
shrunken and the nuclei are rudimentary or absent. The intercellular spaces
are usually filled with air. The medulla is absent from the finer, shorter hairs
and also from some of the hairs of the scalp. It frequently fails to extend the
whole length of the hair.
 14

The cortex:
The cortex makes up the main bulk of the hair and consists of several
layers of cells .In the lower part of the root of the hair, the cortex is
composed of cuboidal cells with nuclei of normal appearance. The cells
become progressively flattened and modified at higher levels. In the upper
part of the root of the hair and in the shaft, the cortex is composed of
comified, elongated cells with longitudinally striated cytoplasm and
shrunken, degenerated nuclei. In coloured hair, pigment granules are found
in and between the cells. Air also accumulates in the intercellular spaces and
modifies the hair colour.

The cuticle:
The cuticle of the hair is exceedingly thin and is composed of a single
layer of clear cells. In the deeper part of the hair root, the cuticular cells are
nucleated. In the upper part of the root and on the shaft, the cuticular cells
are clear, scale like and non-nucleated. The cells overlap like shingles on a
roof giving the surface of the hair a serrated appearance.

The colour of the hair is determined primarily by the amount and

distribution of pigment but to some extent also by the presence of air,
because the latter appears white in reflected light Hair in which the pigment
has faded and the medulla has become filled with air, appears silvery white.

Hair Follicle:
The hair follicle consists of the inner and outer epithelial root sheaths
derived from the epidermis and the connective tissue sheaths derived from
the dermis.
 15

(i) The inner epithelial root sheath is composed of three distinct layers: the
cuticle of the root sheath, Huxley’s layer and Henle’s layer. The cuticle of
hair root sheath lies against the cuticle of hair and is similar to the latter in
structure. It consists of thin, scale like, overlapping cells, nucleated in the
deeper parts of the sheath and non-nucleated nearer the surface. The free
edges of the scales project downward and interdigitate with the upward
projecting edges of the hair cuticle. Huxley’s layer lies immediately outside
the cuticle of the root sheath and consists of several rows of elongated cells
whose protoplasm contains eliding-like granules (trichohyalin). In the deeper
portion of the hair follicle, these cells contain nuclei. Nearer the surface the
nuclei are rudimentary or absent. Henle’s layer is a row of rectangular,
somewhat flattened, clear cells. The cytoplasm contains longitudinal homy
fibrils, and nuclei are present only in the deepest portions of the follicle.
Between the cells are sometimes seen short, wedge like processes which
extend from the cells of Huxley’s layer.
(ii) The outer epithelial root sheath is a direct continuation of the
Malpighian layer of the epidermis, to which it corresponds in structure. The
outermost cells, adjacent to the connective tissue, are tall and arranged in a
single row (the stratum cylindricum). The rest of the cells are more
polygonal in shape.
(iii) The connective tissue sheath is derived from the dermis and consists
of an inner, middle, and an outer layer. The inner layer is a homogeneous,
narrow band, the hyaline or vitreous membrane, and is closely applied to the
cylindrical cells of the outer root sheath. The middle layer is the thickest and
is composed of fine connective tissue fibres that are arranged circularly. The
t

outer layer is poorly defined and consists of rather coarse, loosely woven
bundle of white fibres, which run in longitudinal direction.
 Epidermis
Arrector pill muscle
Shaft of hair

Sebaceous glands

Connective tissue
of dermis

Sweet glands

Outer epithelial
root sheath

Inner epithelial
root sheath

Subcutaneous fat
cells

Bulb of hair

Papilla

Longitudinal section of human hair

 16

In the deeper portion of the root, little distance above the bulb, all the
layers of the hair and its follicles can be distinctly seen. The differentiation
of the layers becomes less marked as one passes in either direction. At the
level of entrance of the ducts of the sebaceous glands, the inner epithelial
root sheath disappears and the outer root sheath passes over into the
Malpighian layer of the epidermis. The connective tissue follicle ceases as a
distinct structure at the level of insertion of the arrector pili muscle. Marked
changes are also noted as the bulb is approached. The outer root sheath thins
down to two and finally to one layer of rather flat cells and then disappears.
The layers of the inner root sheath retain their identity until the neck of the
papilla is reached, at which point the different layers coalesce.

Functions of hair:
The most important function of hair is heat insulator. Hair protects
from injury and sunlight (Jagavakar, 1988). The body temperature is also
regulated by hair. Its other functions are tactile, sexual and protective.
Functions of hair in homosapines include camouflage and protection against
dust and sand (Yadav and Moheshwari, 1990). Perception of tactile
stimulation is due to hair. Hair also has the excretory functions. The
apocrine glands associated with hair follicles produce an odour which is
sexually attractive to the opposite sex. Lastly, the hair in the nasal passage
screens the irritants and warms the air breathed.