follicle

[ fol-i-kuhl ]

noun

1. Anatomy.
   1. a small cavity, sac, or gland.
   2. one of the small ovarian sacs containing an immature ovum; Graafian follicle.
2. Botany. a dry seed vessel, or pod, consisting of a single carpel, splitting at maturity only along the front part of the suture.

follicle

/ fɒˈlɪkjʊlə; ˈfɒlɪkəl; fɒˈlɪkjʊˌleɪt /

noun

1. any small sac or cavity in the body having an excretory, secretory, or protective function

   a hair follicle

2. botany a dry fruit, formed from a single carpel, that splits along one side only to release its seeds: occurs in larkspur and columbine

follicle

/ fŏl′ĭ-kəl /

1. A small, protective sac, gland, or cluster of cells in the body. In mammals, unfertilized eggs develop in follicles located in the ovaries. Hair grows from follicles in the skin.
2. A dry, dehiscent fruit that develops from a single carpel, has a single chamber, and splits open along only one seam to release its seeds. The pod of the milkweed and the fruit of the magnolia are follicles.

Derived Forms

• follicular, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of follicle¹

First recorded in 1640–50, follicle is from the Latin word folliculus small bag, shell, pod. See follis, -cle ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of follicle¹

C17: from Latin folliculus small bag, from follis pair of bellows, leather money-bag

Example Sentences

The research team also detected the thick-thin skin variation before the embryos even developed hair follicles.

From Popular-Science

There is a connection between rosacea and demodex mites, which live in the hair follicles on more or less everyone’s face.

From MIT Technology Review

Together, the cells coalesced into tiny ovarian follicles, with support cells forming a bubble that tightly hugged the developing egg.

From Singularity Hub 

Women have two ovaries, each one containing thousands of immature egg follicles.

From Science News

Consider whether you have thin or thick hairCurly hair can be thin and fine follicles can be plentiful, which is why it’s also important to consider the best hair dryers for thin or thick hair.

From Popular-Science

Mitt Romney, who has reverted to the not-a-follicle-out-of-place hairstyle, never really got up the gumption to hit Newt.

From The Daily Beast

First up is John Edwards, who will show Romney how to achieve that dry-hair look while keeping every follicle in place.

From The Daily Beast

High levels of Follicle Stimulating Hormone knocks us out of contention, unless we go to a specialist clinic.

From The Daily Beast

I propose dealing separately with the several constituents of the egg-follicle.

From Project Gutenberg

Foulis regards the zona pellucida as a product of the ovum and not of the follicle.

From Project Gutenberg

The membrane would seem indeed to be formed in some instances even before the ovum has a definite investment of follicle cells.

From Project Gutenberg

There can, it appears to me, be no question that both varieties of cell are derived from the primitive uniform follicle cells.

From Project Gutenberg

The cells are flat, but extended so as to appear of an unexpected size in views of the surface of the follicle.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• hair
• lode
• nerve
• seam
• stripe