Morphology and Properties of Hair

The chapter discussed the chemistry of keratin fibers, which are crucial for understanding various events within these fibers. Hair fibers, a major component of the outer covering for most mammals, evolved to withstand harsh conditions and remain stable over time. Mammalian hairs, along with wools, horns, claws, nails, and quills, primarily consisted of alpha-keratin, a protein polymer made of polypeptide chains from amino acids. Hair production occurred entirely within the hair follicle, with keratinization stabilizing the elongated cortical cells before the fiber emerged from the skin.