The root of Hair

The hair root or the hair follicle is one of the parts of hair which stays under the surface of the skin. It is made with approximately 20 different types of protein cells and each of these cells has different functions. The average human scalp contains over 1lakh hair follicles.

The root of the hair gets nourished by the blood vessels near the skin. The growth of the hair starts from the bottom of the hair follicle. The hair gradually grows out of the inner layer of skin as more cells are created. The skin and the hairs get nourished by the oil which is produced by some glands near the hair follicles.

Parts of the Root of the Hair

The hair follicle consists of various parts. These parts are:

• Papilla:The large structure at the base of a hair follicle is called is known as Papilla. It is made with a capillary loop and connective tissue.
• Hair Matrix:Hair matrix is another part of the hair follicle which stays around the Papilla. It is known to produce the outer and inner root sheaths of hair and the hair shaft.
• Inner Root Sheath:The internal root sheath surrounds the growing hair and protects it. It is composed of three layers which are an internal cuticle, Henle's Layer, and Huxley's Layer.
• Outer Root Sheath:The external root sheath surrounds the whole hair follicle.
• The Bulge:Numerous types of stem cells can be found in the bulge. It also helps to heal the wounded epidermis. It is located in the outer root sheath.  

The hair follicle is the most important part of the hair. So, keeping the scalp of your hair clean can help the hair follicles to be healthy.