Lanugo

Definition

Lanugo is the fine, soft hair that covers the body and limbs of a fetus or newborn baby. It is typically shed before birth, around the seventh or eighth month of pregnancy, but can also be seen on babies born prematurely.

Related terms

Vernix caseosa: A greasy deposit covering the skin of a baby at birth, protecting the skin from amniotic fluid.

Fetal development: The process by which human embryos and fetuses grow and develop in the womb.

Premature birth: The birth of a baby at fewer than 37 weeks gestational age, often before lanugo has been shed