Human hair with damaged cuticle, scanning electron micrograph (SEM). An eyelash hair showing damaged keratinized cell surface along with dead skin cel

---

Human hair with damaged cuticle, scanning electron micrograph (SEM). An eyelash hair showing damaged keratinized cell surface along with dead skin cells. The outer layer of hair (the cuticle) has overlapping scales of keratin. These scales are thought to prevent hairs from matting together. Hair is made up of a fibrous protein called keratin. Internally the hair shaft is divided into three concentric sheaths (layers) called the medulla, cortex and outer cuticle. Hair is non-living tissue. Hair grows from a hair root (bulb) embedded in the skin. Hair growth occurs when epidermal cells divide at the base of the root bulb. Hair is non-living tissue. Magnification: x100 when shortest axis printed at 25 millimetres.

---

Size: 2646px × 3302px
Photo credit: © DENNIS KUNKEL MICROSCOPY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: -, -living, 23010a, black, body, bulb, cell, cells, cortex, cuticle, damaged, dandruff, dead, eyelash, fibrous, filament, filaments, growth, hair, hairs, healthy, human, keratin, keratinized, medical, medicine, medulla, monochrome, normal, outer, overlapping, protein, scale, scales, sem, shaft, shafts, skin, tissue, white