Pennsylvania Esthetician State Board Practice Exam

What is the name for the soft, downy hair on the body that is present at birth?

1. Terminal

2. Villus

3. Barb

4. Cilia

The correct answer is: Villus

The soft, downy hair that covers the human body and is present at birth is known as villus hair. This type of hair is fine, thin, and often unpigmented, serving various functions, including providing insulation and a sensory function to the skin. Villus hair primarily emerges during the fetal stage and covers most of the body, with the exception of certain areas, such as the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. In contrast, terminal hair is coarser, darker, and thicker hair that develops later in life, often influenced by hormonal changes during puberty. Barb and cilia refer to hair-like structures but do not accurately describe the soft body hair present at birth. Thus, villus is the correct term that accurately identifies this specific type of hair.