hair follicle

American  

noun

Anatomy.

1. a small cavity in the epidermis and corium of the skin, from which a hair develops.

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hair follicle British  

noun

1. a narrow tubular cavity that contains the root of a hair, formed by an infolding of the epidermis and corium of the skin

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Etymology

Origin of hair follicle

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

But Tsuji says his study identified a "novel third cell type", called a hair follicle regenerative-supporting cell.

From BBC • Jun. 3, 2026

As of right now, dermatologists don’t know the root cause of FAPD, though they believe it might show up in midlife due to a decline in estrogen, which protects against hair follicle inflammation.

From Slate • May 23, 2026

One ongoing project is testing whether cysteine can promote hair follicle regrowth.

From Science Daily • Oct. 23, 2025

The present study bringd greater clarity by casting retinoids in a more central role -- at the helm of regulating both hair follicle and epidermal stem cells.

From Science Daily • Mar. 7, 2024

After an interval of from six to ten days a soft white slough is discharged; this is known as the “core,” and consists of the necrosed hair follicle or sebaceous gland.

From Manual of Surgery Volume First: General Surgery. Sixth Edition. by Thomson, Alexis