Anagen
Definition
Anagen is the active growth phase of a hair follicle, during which cells produce the growing hair. A recovered hair’s root condition can inform examination, but growth phase, retained tissue and suitability for DNA testing are separate assessments.
Related terms
- Cortex
- Middle, thickest hair layer of spindle-shaped cortical cells. Holds pigment granules, cortical fusi (air spaces) and ovoid bodies. Source of colour, texture...
- Cuticle
- An extracellular covering of many aerial plant surfaces containing a cutin-rich matrix and associated waxes. Its structure and preserved epidermal relationships can...
- Exogen
- Release or shedding of a retained hair, distinct from the resting phase itself. Hair formation, retention and shedding involve different structures and...
- Medulla
- The medulla is the central region that may be visible within a hair shaft, with appearance that can be continuous, interrupted, fragmented...
Explained in
- Hair Anatomy and the Growth CycleActive growth phase of a hair follicle.