: a short, fine, light-colored body hair that is found on most surfaces of the body and in which the hair shaft lacks the central inner layer found in a terminal hair
The transformation of small, fine and unpigmented vellus hair follicles to terminal hair follicles, which are longer, thicker and more pigmented, is stimulated by androgens.—
Aurora Guerra-Tapia et al., American Journal of Clinical Dermatology
Aurora Guerra-Tapia et al., American Journal of Clinical DermatologyTerminal hairs are larger in diameter, with their bulb extending down to the subcutaneous fat, while vellus hairs are much smaller, with their bulb located in the mid dermis.—Primary Care Reports
Primary Care ReportsDictionary Entries Near vellus hair
Cite this Entry
“Vellus hair.” Merriam-Webster.com Medical Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/vellus%20hair. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share