Received on March 18, 2005.
Approved by the Consultive Council and accepted for publication on January 06, 2006.
* Work done at Universidade Federal do Paraná, Department of Internal Medicine, Service of Dermatology (PR), Brazil.
Conflict of interests: None
1 Dermatologist, MSc in Internal Medicine, Assistant Professor of Dermatology, Universidade Federal do Paraná (PR), Brazil.
2 Medical student, Universidade Federal do Paraná (PR), Brazil.
3 Pathologist, MSc in Pathology, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Professor of Basic Pathology, Universidade Federal do Paraná (PR), Brazil.
4 Pathologist, Ph.D. in Pathology from the University of London, England, Full Professor of Pathology, Universidade Federal do Paraná e da Pontifícia Universidade Católica do
Paraná (PR), Brazil.
©2006 by Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia
Morphometry of normal scalp hair follicles*
Morfometria de folículos pilosos do couro cabeludo normal*
Fabiane Mulinari-Brenner1
Fernanda Manfron Batista Rosas2
José Fillus Neto3
Luiz Fernando Bleggi Torres4
46
An Bras Dermatol. 2006;81(1):46-52.
Clinical, Epidemiological, Laboratory and Therapeutic Investigation
Abstract: BACKGROUND - Histological description of normal human hair follicle has scarce literature.
Recognizing normal scalp follicle and its variability throughout the scalp is fundamental to study
scalp disorders.
OBJECTIVES - To evaluate normal scalp samples in Caucasians considering cross-section area, maxi-
mum and minimum diameters of terminal anagen follicles.
METHODS - Twenty necropsies of Caucasian individuals (10M, 10F) were followed by a 4mm punch
biopsy of 4 scalp areas. Transverse sections were evaluated by light microscopy. Terminal anagen fol-
licle cross-section area, maximum and minimum diameters were determined by computer image
analysis. Results were compared between sexes and scalp areas.
RESULTS - Follicular area and maximum and minimum diameters are presented.
CONCLUSION - No statistically significant differences were observed in follicular maximum diameter
and area in