HAIR

+HAIR FOLLICLE
•  A hair follicle anchors each hair into the skin.
• The hair follicle can be divided into 3 regions: the lower segment
(bulb and suprabulb), the middle segment (isthmus), and the upper
segment (infundibulum). The lower segment extends from the base of
the follicle to the insertion of the erector pili muscle (also known as
the arrector pili muscle). The middle segment is a short section that
extends from the insertion of the erector pili muscle to the entrance of
the sebaceous gland duct. The upper segment extends from the
entrance of the sebaceous gland duct to the follicular orifice.
• The expanded onion-shaped portion of the lower hair follicle, including
the hair matrix and the follicular papilla is known as the hair bulb
which is the active reproductive portion of the hair follicle.
• The hair bulb encloses folicular dermal papilla, mucopolysaccharide-
rich strome, nerve fiber and capillary loop.
• The matrix cells are localized to the lowermost portion of the follicle
and surround all sides of the follicular papilla. The cells of the hair
matrix have vesicular nuclei and deeply basophilic cytoplasm.
• The hair matrix cells give rise to 6 different types of cells that make up
the different layers of the hair shaft and the inner root sheath
• The hair shaft and IRS (internal root sheath) are derived from the
matrix cells. The IRS is derived from the lower and laterally located
matrix cells, whereas the hair shaft is originated from upper and
centrally located cells.
• In addition to producing the main structural components of hair, they
also produce the hair keratins, and their associated proteins (KAPs)
• Melanocytes reside among matrix stem cells to produce the pigment of the hair. During their differentiation phase, matrix cells
phagocytose melanin or pheomelanin from the dendritic elongations of melanocytes. The hair assumes its color via the amount
and the type of the phagocytized major pigment.
• Follicular papilla, which is derived from a condensation of mesenchymal cells at the early stages of follicular embryogenesis, is
one of the most important players during the induction and maintenance of the follicular epithelial differentiation. It is
responsible for determining the follicle type. The volume and secretory activity of follicular papilla and also the number of
matrix stem cells determine the size of the anagen hair bulb, the duration of anagen phase and the diameter of the hair shaft.
Moreover the follicular papilla is an essential source of growth factors.
• Inner root sheath
• The inner root sheath (IRS) is closely apposed (place something side by
side) to the hair shaft, and, because the sheath contains no pigment, it can
easily be distinguished from the hair shaft.
• The IRS coats and supports the hair shaft up to the level of the isthmus, at
which it breaks down and exfoliates in the infundibular space.
• The IRS consists of 3 concentric cell layers. The layers keratinize by
forming trichohyalin granules; this is unlike the hair shaft, which undergoes
trichilemmal keratinization. The outermost layer of the IRS (Henle layer)
keratinizes first because it is lowest in the hair follicle. The cells of the
innermost layer (IRS cuticle) point downward and inward and interconnect
with the cells of the hair cuticle. These 2 cuticles are completely integrated
and keratinize after the Henle layer. The middle layer (Huxley layer)
keratinizes after the IRS cuticle and the hair cuticle. The 3 layers are distinct
just above the dermal papilla. However, they keratinize relatively low in the
hair follicle and are indistinguishable at higher levels, where they function as
a single unit covering the hair shaft. The IRS stains deeply with toluidine
blue because of the presence of the amino acid citrulline.
• Hair shaft
• The hair shaft consists of 3 layers. The outermost layer of the hair
shaft (cuticle) consists of overlapping cells that are arranged like
shingles. They point outward and upward and interlock with the IRS
cuticle, which leads to a firm attachment between the hair shaft and
the IRS. As a result, they move upward in the follicular canal as a
single unit. The middle layer of the hair shaft (hair cortex) constitutes
the bulk of the hair and consists of cells that keratinize gradually as
they move upward from the hair matrix. Unlike the IRS, which
keratinizes by forming trichohyalin granules (soft keratin), the hair
cortex cells keratinize without forming granules (the aforementioned
trichilemmal keratinization). The keratin produced is termed hard
keratin. The innermost layer (medulla) is frequently difficult to
visualize. Routine light microscopy is typically used to visualize this
layer, because the layer is discontinuous in many cases and is often
completely absent. Medullary cells contain glycogen-rich vacuoles
and medullary granules, which contain citrulline (similar to the cells
of the IRS).