Abdominal hair
Encyclopedia : A : AB : ABD : Abdominal hair
The term abdominal hair refers to the hair that grows on the abdomen (belly) of humans and non-human mammals, in the region between the pubic area and the thorax (chest). The growth of abdominal hair follows the same pattern on nearly all mammals, vertically from the pubic area upwards and from the thorax downwards to the umbilicus (navel). The abdominal hair of non-human mammals is part of the pelage or fur.
Human abdominal hair
Before puberty, the adominal region of both males and females is covered with very fine vellus hair. In response to rising levels of androgens (mainly testosterone) during and after puberty, the skin of the abdomen begins to produce terminal hair with a faster growth rate. This process affects primarily men and is developing during puberty corresponding to Tanner stage 5. Initially hair grows in vertical lines from the pubic area up and from the thorax down to the navel. Slang terms for these lines include “happy trail”, “funny trail”, “crab ladder”, “joy trail” or “treasure trail”. With growing age the hair may spread to the remainder of the abdomen. Although the development of abdominal hair normally begins during puberty it may also start later, between the age of 20 and 30. The growth continues subsequently. It is now quite common for many men, especially young men, both heterosexual and homosexual, to shave or wax their abdominal hair.
Even some women may develop a small line of hair from the pubic area up to the navel. According to the female sex image in many cultures this is often seen as undesirable and unattractive. An excessive abdominal hair on women following the male pattern can be referred to hirsutism.
See also
Further reading
The following journal articles include sketches of different abdominal hair patterns and observed percentages of men exhibiting each pattern.
- Varieties of the quadrangular abdominal hair pattern of white males. Journal of the National Medical Association. 1967 Jan;59(1):45-7
- Varieties of the acuminate abdominal hair pattern of white males. Journal of the National Medical Association. 1966 May;58(3):191-3
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