Free Cosmetology study resource

Cosmetology Anatomy Practice Workbook

10 questions on hair structures, growth, cells and hand bones.

A 10-question general-anatomy sample for independent theory study. This is a topic workbook, not a full mixed exam or an official state-board examination.

Answer all ten questions before reading the answer pages. Mark answers you guessed. This short topic sample cannot predict an exam result.

Name: ____________________________   Date: ______________

1. Which structure at the base of the follicle supplies blood that nourishes hair growth?

  1. The hair shaft
  2. The dermal papilla
  3. The sebaceous gland
  4. The cuticle

My answer: ______   Guessed? ______

2. Of the three layers of the hair, which one largely determines strength, elasticity, and color?

  1. The medulla
  2. The cortex
  3. The cuticle
  4. The follicle

My answer: ______   Guessed? ______

3. The carpal (wrist) bones are classified as:

  1. Short bones
  2. Long bones
  3. Flat bones
  4. Irregular bones

My answer: ______   Guessed? ______

4. The phalanges are the bones of the:

  1. The digits (fingers/toes)
  2. The nasal cavity
  3. The mouth
  4. The wrist

My answer: ______   Guessed? ______

5. Which cell structure contains the genetic instructions copied before cell division?

  1. The nucleus
  2. The protoplasm
  3. The membrane
  4. A gland

My answer: ______   Guessed? ______

Questions 6–10

6. The club-shaped structure at the lower part of the hair root is called the:

  1. Bulb
  2. Shaft
  3. Follicle
  4. Papilla

My answer: ______   Guessed? ______

7. Which structural protein is a major component of hair and nails?

  1. Hemoglobin
  2. Melanin
  3. Keratin
  4. Calcium

My answer: ______   Guessed? ______

8. The small muscle attached to the hair follicle that contracts to cause 'goosebumps' is the:

  1. Arrector pili
  2. Epicranium
  3. Procerus
  4. Auricularis

My answer: ______   Guessed? ______

9. Anagen is active growth and catagen is transition. Which term names the resting stage of hair growth?

  1. Telogen
  2. Transition phase
  3. Final phase
  4. Growth phase

My answer: ______   Guessed? ______

10. The hair layer that is sometimes absent in fine hair is the:

  1. Medulla
  2. Cortex
  3. Cuticle
  4. Lanugo

My answer: ______   Guessed? ______

Answers and explanations — 1–5

Review the reason for each answer, including answers you guessed correctly.

1. Answer B — The dermal papilla

The dermal papilla contains capillaries that nourish the growing hair. The shaft is the hair fiber, the cuticle is an outer covering, and the sebaceous gland produces sebum.

Study tip: Use the blood-supply clue to identify the papilla.

Sources: S1. Review this concept online.

2. Answer B — The cortex

The cortex is the main layer of the hair shaft. It contains natural pigment and contributes to strength and elasticity. The cuticle is the outer covering; the medulla is the inner core. A follicle surrounds the root.

Study tip: Separate layers of the hair fiber from the follicle around it.

Sources: S1, S2, S9. Review this concept online.

3. Answer A — Short bones

Carpals are short bones. Bone classification describes shape rather than simply how small a bone looks; short bones are roughly cube-shaped.

Study tip: A small finger bone can still be a long bone by shape.

Sources: S3. Review this concept online.

4. Answer A — The digits (fingers/toes)

Phalanges are the bones of the fingers and toes. Carpals are the wrist bones, so the wrist choice names a different group.

Study tip: Identify the location before choosing a bone name.

Sources: S4, S5. Review this concept online.

5. Answer A — The nucleus

The nucleus contains the genetic instructions copied before cell division. The cell membrane forms a boundary. Match the DNA-storage function to the specific structure rather than choosing a general term.

Study tip: Underline the function in the question before comparing the choices.

Sources: S6, S7. Review this concept online.

Answers and explanations — 6–10

6. Answer A — Bulb

The bulb is the enlarged base of the hair root around the papilla. The shaft is the hair fiber; the papilla is the blood-supply structure inside the bulb.

Study tip: Bulb describes the enlarged base; papilla describes the structure within it.

Sources: S1, S8. Review this concept online.

7. Answer C — Keratin

Keratin is a structural protein in hair and nails. Melanin is a pigment; naming the substance that colors hair does not identify its structural protein.

Study tip: Distinguish the job of a structural protein from the job of a pigment.

Sources: S1, S2. Review this concept online.

8. Answer A — Arrector pili

Contraction of the arrector pili raises the hair and produces goosebumps. The question describes the small muscle attached to the follicle.

Study tip: Match the attachment and action, rather than choosing a familiar muscle name.

Sources: S1, S8. Review this concept online.

9. Answer A — Telogen

Telogen is the resting stage. Anagen is active growth and catagen is transition; the growth-phase and transition-phase choices describe those stages.

Study tip: Learn the stage names by activity before memorizing time ranges.

Sources: S8. Review this concept online.

10. Answer A — Medulla

The medulla is the inner core and may be absent in fine hair. The cortex is the main layer and the cuticle is the outer covering.

Study tip: Separate the three layer names from names for types of hair.

Sources: S1, S2, S10. Review this concept online.

Source references

Source review: 2026-10-20. Three question stems are narrowed for precise anatomy wording. Choice order and answer letters match the corresponding public questions; the workbook gives original source-located explanations.