Which hair shaft component is primarily associated with the outer protective layer and coarse surface?

Which hair shaft component is primarily associated with the outer protective layer and coarse surface?

• A. Cortex
• B. Medulla
• C. Cuticle
• D. Follicle

Answer: (C)

The outer protective layer of the hair shaft is the cuticle. It’s made of many overlapping, flat cells that form a tough, scale-like surface. This arrangement protects the inner layers and gives the hair its surface texture. The coarse feel comes from these scales; when they lie flat, the hair feels smooth, and when they lift or become rough, the surface appears coarse and more porous, which also affects how the hair interacts with moisture, chemicals, and color. Beneath the cuticle lies the cortex, which provides most of the hair’s strength and pigment, and the medulla, a central core that isn’t always present. The follicle is the hair’s root structure embedded in the skin, not part of the shaft. So the outer protective layer and its coarse surface are defined by the cuticle.

The outer protective layer of the hair shaft is the cuticle. It’s made of many overlapping, flat cells that form a tough, scale-like surface. This arrangement protects the inner layers and gives the hair its surface texture. The coarse feel comes from these scales; when they lie flat, the hair feels smooth, and when they lift or become rough, the surface appears coarse and more porous, which also affects how the hair interacts with moisture, chemicals, and color. Beneath the cuticle lies the cortex, which provides most of the hair’s strength and pigment, and the medulla, a central core that isn’t always present. The follicle is the hair’s root structure embedded in the skin, not part of the shaft. So the outer protective layer and its coarse surface are defined by the cuticle.