Anagen
Definition
The active growth phase of the hair cycle, lasting two to six years in scalp hair. During anagen the root matrix is metabolically active and carries nucleated cells capable of yielding nuclear DNA. An anagen hair pulled from the scalp may also carry a follicular tag.
Related terms
- Cortex
- The middle, and largest, layer of the hair shaft. It contains cortical cells, pigment granules (melanin), and cortical fusi (air spaces). The...
- Cuticle
- The waxy, polymer layer covering the outer surface of leaf epidermal cells. It protects against water loss and herbivory but, forensically, it...
- Follicular tag
- Translucent sheath tissue adhering to the root of a forcibly pulled hair. Contains nucleated epithelial cells from the inner root sheath and...
- Medulla
- The central canal of the hair shaft, which may be continuous, interrupted, fragmented, or absent. Medullary pattern and the medullary index (medulla...
- Telogen
- The resting phase of the hair cycle, lasting two to four months in scalp hair. The root forms a club-shaped, non-pigmented bulb....
Explained in
- Hair Anatomy and the Growth CycleThe active growth phase of the hair cycle, lasting two to six years in scalp hair. During anagen the root matrix is metabolically active and carries nucleated...