Final answer:
The study of hair is known as trichology, which is a specialized branch of dermatology. Hair consists of keratinocytes and plays important physiological roles, with the hair matrix being crucial for hair production.
Step-by-step explanation:
The technical term for the study of hair is called trichology. This term refers to a branch of dermatology dedicated to the health and diseases of the hair and scalp. Trichology stems from the Greek words ‘thorax’ meaning hair and ‘-logy’ meaning study or science. Like other sciences, such as physiology and biochemistry, trichology is based on scientific principles and involves the understanding of the biology and structure of hair. The hair itself is composed of keratinocytes, which are cells filled with the protein keratin, and grows from a hair follicle located in the skin's dermis layer.
Hair plays several physiological roles such as protection from external factors, regulation of body temperature, and facilitation of evaporation of perspiration. The hair matrix, a critical component of the hair follicle, contains a layer of basal cells which are responsible for the production of hair strands, collectively known as the hair shaft.