velluslike

Velluslike is an adjective used to describe features that resemble vellus hair or the soft, fine hair that covers much of the body. The term comes from vellus, Latin for a soft fleece, with the suffix -like meaning resembling. It is not a formal diagnostic term; its exact meaning depends on the discipline and the author.

In dermatology and histology, vellluslike may describe hair patterns, follicles, or skin surface projections that are fine, short, and lightly pigmented, similar to vellus hair. It can be used in discussions of development, dermatopathology, or tissue engineering when a structure mimics a vellus phenotype. In embryology, vellluslike structures may indicate an early, pre-terminal hair development stage.

Vellus hair differs from terminal hair, which is longer, coarser, and often pigmented. Thus, labeling something vellluslike implies a qualitative likeness to vellus hair rather than maturity into terminal hair. Because the term is informal, researchers should define the criteria they use (e.g., average length, diameter, pigmentation) when applying it.

See also: vellus hair, terminal hair, hair follicle development, hirsutism.