Beyond Goosebumps: Does the Arrector Pili Muscle Have a Role in Hair Loss?

The arrector pili muscle (APM) consists of a small band of smooth muscle that connects the hair follicle to the connective tissue of the basement membrane. The APM mediates thermoregulation by contracting to increase air-trapping, but was thought to be vestigial in humans. The APM attaches proximall...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Torkamani, Niloufar, Rufaut, Nicholas W, Jones, Leslie, Sinclair, Rodney D
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd 2014
Materias:
Review Article
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4158628/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25210331
http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/0974-7753.139077
Descripción
Sumario:The arrector pili muscle (APM) consists of a small band of smooth muscle that connects the hair follicle to the connective tissue of the basement membrane. The APM mediates thermoregulation by contracting to increase air-trapping, but was thought to be vestigial in humans. The APM attaches proximally to the hair follicle at the bulge, a known stem cell niche. Recent studies have been directed toward this muscle's possible role in maintaining the follicular integrity and stability. This review summarizes APM anatomy and physiology and then discusses the relationship between the follicular unit and the APM. The potential role of the APM in hair loss disorders is also described, and a model explaining APM changes in hair loss is proposed.

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