Cortex (hair)

The cortex of the hair shaft is located between the hair cuticle and medulla and is the thickest hair layer. It also contains most of the hair's pigment, giving the hair its color. The pigment in the cortex is melanin, which is also found in skin. The distribution of this pigment varies from animal to animal and person to person. In humans, the melanin is primarily denser nearer the cuticle whereas in animals, melanin is primarily denser nearer the medulla.^[1]

References

↑ James, William; Berger, Timothy; Elston, Dirk (2005) Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: Clinical Dermatology (10th ed.). Saunders. Page 8. ISBN 0-7216-2921-0.

Skin and related structures

Skin

Epidermis	Stratum corneum Stratum lucidum Stratum granulosum Stratum spinosum Stratum basale

Basement membrane	Basal keratinocyte Lamina lucida Lamina densa

Dermis	Papillary Dermal papillae Reticular

Root sheath	Outer root sheath Inner root sheath Henle's layer Huxley's layer

Hair shaft	Cuticle Cortex Medulla Bulb with matrix cells Hair follicle

Muscle	Arrector pili muscle

Pilosebaceous unit	Hair sebaceous gland

Nail

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