Which layer is primarily responsible for hair pigment?

Which layer is primarily responsible for hair pigment?

• A. Cortex
• B. Cuticle
• C. Papilla
• D. Medulla

Answer: (A)

Hair color comes from melanin produced by melanocytes in the hair bulb. That pigment is deposited into the surrounding hair cells as the strand forms, and most of it ends up in the cortex—the thick middle layer of the hair shaft. The cortex is where pigment granules concentrate, giving the hair its visible color and shade. The cuticle is the outer protective layer; it helps hold color and protect the cortex but doesn’t determine the color itself. The medulla, when present, is the central core and can contain pigment in some hairs, but it isn’t the main reservoir of color. The papilla at the base nourishes the follicle and doesn’t produce pigment. So the cortex is the primary layer responsible for hair pigment.

Hair color comes from melanin produced by melanocytes in the hair bulb. That pigment is deposited into the surrounding hair cells as the strand forms, and most of it ends up in the cortex—the thick middle layer of the hair shaft. The cortex is where pigment granules concentrate, giving the hair its visible color and shade. The cuticle is the outer protective layer; it helps hold color and protect the cortex but doesn’t determine the color itself. The medulla, when present, is the central core and can contain pigment in some hairs, but it isn’t the main reservoir of color. The papilla at the base nourishes the follicle and doesn’t produce pigment. So the cortex is the primary layer responsible for hair pigment.