The layer of hair consisting of unique protein structures that give the hair most of its pigment and strength (elasticity) is called the:

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

Answer: (A)

Understanding hair anatomy helps explain where pigment and strength come from. The cortex is the thick middle layer where keratin fibers are organized and melanin pigment is stored. This combination gives hair its color and its main structural properties, including strength and elasticity.

The cuticle is the outer protective layer of flat cells and mainly affects surface texture and moisture loss. The medulla is the soft inner core that may be absent in finer hair and doesn’t determine color or overall strength. The follicle is the skin passage from which hair grows, not a hair layer.

So, the layer that provides most of the pigment and the hair’s strength and elasticity is the cortex.