Lanugokarva

Lanugokarva is a term used to describe lanugo hair, a fine, downy coat that covers the skin of fetuses and, in many cases, newborns in humans and some other mammals. The hair is typically pale or unpigmented and has a soft, velvety texture. Lanugo begins to form during the second trimester of human development and is usually shed before birth, though it may persist briefly in some preterm infants.

In human development, lanugo serves several roles in utero. It helps anchor vernix caseosa, a protective coating that cushions the skin, and may contribute to temperature regulation before birth. After birth, lanugo is ordinarily replaced by vellus hair as the skin adapts to life outside the uterus. The pattern and duration of lanugo can vary among individuals and species.

The presence of lanugo at birth is more common in preterm babies and generally decreases with increasing gestational age. Some newborns may have lanugo on the shoulders, back, or face for a short period, while others show little to no lanugo. In other mammals, lanugo-type hair is part of fetal or newborn coat development and is typically shed before or shortly after birth as part of normal maturation.

Clinically, the extent and distribution of lanugo can provide information about fetal development and gestational age, though it is one of several indicators used in prenatal and neonatal assessments.