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Why do we have hair on our bodies? What are its benefits?
The service they provide varies depending on where the hair is located. Imagine, each of these hairs has a small function. First, let's look at the hair on the head (hair) and the hair on the body . The main thing about these is to help keep our bodies warm. Do you remember how much heat our heads get on a cold day because of our hair? Even the fine hair on our bodies helps retain body heat to some extent. In the past, when people had little clothing, this hair was the main thing that protected them from the cold. Next, the eyelashes . Although these are very small, they do a big job. Imagine when you are walking on the road, how many dust particles and small insects try to get into your eyes? At that time, these eyelashes protect our eyes. They act like a small net, preventing things like dust and dirt from entering the eyes. Just like the natural guards for our eyes. When talking about eyebrows , we should also consider the protection they provide to our eyes. Whether you are bathing or sweating, the eyebrows prevent water droplets and sweat droplets from falling directly into the eyes. They act like a small roof. Not only that, these eyebrows also help to reduce the impact of sunlight on the eyes to some extent. Finally, the hair inside the nose (Nasal Hairs) . When we breathe, dust particles, pollen, and other small things that are harmful to us in the environment try to enter through the nose. At that time, these hairs in the nose act like a filter and prevent those harmful things from entering the lungs. So imagine how much these little hairs can help our respiratory system!So, do you understand? The hair on our body is not just a random thing. Each of them has a specific function.
What is a hair tree? Let's take a look inside!
Simply put, a hair shaft is a type of hardened protein fiber that is packed in layers on top of each other. The hair shaft we see is actually made up of several main parts.Layers of a Hair Strand
If we cut a strand of hair across, we can see three main layers.- Cuticle:This is the outermost, very strong protective layer of the hair shaft. It is made up of cells that are folded over each other like little tiles. This cuticle protects the delicate parts inside the hair shaft from damage. Whether your hair is shiny or dull depends on the health of this cuticle.
- Cortex: The cortex is the layer inside the cuticle that covers most of the hair shaft. It is in this part of the hair shaft that the majority of melanin, which is responsible for the strength and flexibility of the hair shaft, as well as the color of the hair, is deposited.
- Medulla: The layer in the very center of the hair shaft, the innermost layer, is called the medulla. However, this part called the medulla is not clearly visible in every hair shaft. It can be invisible, especially in very fine, thin hair shafts. Doctors and scientists are still researching its exact function.
The Hair Factory: The Follicle
Each hair grows from a small sac-like structure embedded in the skin, just below the surface of the skin. This is what we call a follicle. Just like a plant grows in a pot, the hair grows inside this follicle. At the bottom of this follicle is a special part called the papilla . That is where the actual growth of the hair takes place. The root of the hair, that is, the soft bulb-like part at the bottom of the hair, is inside this follicle. The part that emerges from the surface of the skin and we see is called the hair shaft .Oil Glands are Connected Too!
Each hair follicle is connected to another small gland. This is called a sebaceous gland . The oil secreted by these glands (called sebum) flows up the hair shaft and prevents our hair and skin from drying out. This oil is what gives our hair its shine and keeps our skin smooth.
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Check Availability →How does hair grow? It's a very amazing process!
The growth of a hair shaft is a very complex, yet amazing process. Remember the part called the Papilla at the bottom of the Follicle that we talked about earlier? That's where it all starts. The Papilla gets its nourishment from the blood vessels underneath it. Using this nourishment, the cells in the Papilla start to grow new ones. These new hair cells gradually grow, then die, and thicken. This thickening process is called Keratinization.. Keratin is a major protein found in things like our hair and nails. So, as new cells continue to form below the papilla, the old, keratinized cells are pushed up. This pushing and pushing finally results in the hair shaft emerging from the surface of the skin. It's like a factory manufacturing a product and then releasing it.Hair growth never stops. When a hair falls out, a new hair follicle starts to grow (this is the normal state, although this can change in some medical conditions).
How is hair color and texture created? This is also very interesting!
Not all of our hair is the same. Some have black hair, some have brown hair, and some have red hair. Similarly, some have smooth, straight hair. Others have curly or wavy hair. Let's take a look at the reasons for these differences.The Reason for Hair Color
Hair gets its color from a special pigment called Melanin . There are two main types of Melanin in our hair: 1. Eumelanin 2. Pheomelanin The color of your hair is determined by the amount of these two types of Melanin in your hair.- People with a lot of eumelanin have dark hair (brown or black).
- People with a lot of Pheomelanin and a little Eumelanin have red hair.
- People with low levels of both Eumelanin and Pheomelanin have light-colored hair (Blond hair) .
Hair Texture
The nature of hair, whether it is straight, curly, thick, or thin, is determined by the shape of the hair follicle.- Due to the shape of some follicles , curly hair emerges from them.
- Straight hair emerges from other types of follicles.
- Also, while some follicles produce thicker hair, others produce thinner hair.
So, let's remember what we talked about? (Take-Home Message)
So, we talked a lot about hair today, right?- Hair is not just something that exists, it has many functions.– From keeping the body warm, to protecting the eyes from dust, to acting as a filter for the nose.
- A hair shaft is made up of proteins , and it has three main layers: the cuticle, the cortex, and the medulla.
- Hair is formed in a small sac-like structure called a follicle in the skin, in a part called a papilla.
- The color of hair is determined by a pigment called Melanin'' .
- The nature of hair (whether it is straight or curly) is determined by the shape of the follicle .
Hair, Hair Growth, Hair Color, Hair Structure, Follicle, Melanin, Keratinization
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