| Hair | |
|---|---|
 Cross section of a hair strand | |
 Scanning electron microscopy image of Merino wool (top) and human hair (bottom) showing keratin scales | |
| Details | |
| System | Integumentary system |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | capillum |
| MeSH | D006197 |
| TA98 | A16.0.00.014 |
| TA2 | 7053 |
| TH | H3.12.00.3.02001 |
| FMA | 53667 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
Hair is a protein filament that grows from follicles found in the dermis. Hair is one of the defining characteristics of mammals. The human body, apart from areas of glabrous skin, is covered in follicles which produce thick terminal and fine vellus hair. Most common interest in hair is focused on hair growth, hair types, and hair care, but hair is also an important biomaterial primarily composed of protein, notably alpha-keratin.
Attitudes towards different forms of hair, such as hairstyles and hair removal, vary widely across different cultures and historical periods, but it is often used to indicate a person's personal beliefs or social position, such as their age, gender, or religion.[1]
- ^ Sherrow, Victoria (2006). Encyclopedia of Hair: A Cultural History. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. p. iv. ISBN 978-0-313-33145-9.