What term describes the fine, soft hair often found on babies?

The term that specifically describes the fine, soft hair commonly found on babies is lanugo hair. Lanugo is the soft, downy hair that covers a fetus in the womb and usually appears by around 16 weeks of gestation. This type of hair is typically shed shortly before birth or shortly after, although some babies may still have remnants of lanugo at birth.

Understanding the context of other hair types is helpful when distinguishing lanugo. Terminal hair refers to the coarser, thicker hair found on the scalp, body, and face, which develops after puberty. Vellus hair, on the other hand, is the fine, soft hair that covers most of the body and is more common in children and women. Androgenic hair refers to hair that grows in response to androgens (male hormones) and typically appears in areas like the beard and chest in males.

Recognizing these different types of hair can enhance understanding of human development and the changes that occur during puberty as well as the varying functions of different types of hair in the body.