Hazel
Hazel (Medicine)
Hazel (/ˈheɪzəl/), in the field of medicine, often refers to a color often seen in human iris, skin, and hair. The term is derived from the name of the hazel tree, which produces nuts of a similar color.
Etymology
The term "hazel" is derived from the Old English hæsel. The use of the word as a color in English goes back to at least the 16th century, as it is mentioned in 1548 in a book of herbal remedies.
Medical Significance
In medicine, the term "hazel" is often used to describe a color that is between green and brown. This color is most commonly seen in the iris of the eye, but can also be seen in skin and hair color. Hazel eyes are due to a combination of Rayleigh scattering and a moderate amount of melanin in the iris' anterior border layer. Hazel eyes often appear to shift in color from a brown to a green.
Hazel is also a term used in dermatology to describe a certain color of skin pigmentation. This can be seen in conditions such as Melasma, where the skin on the face develops brown or gray-brown patches.
Related Terms
- Iris: The colored part of the eye, which can be hazel in color.
- Melanin: The pigment that gives human skin, hair, and eyes their color. Melanin concentration can affect whether eyes appear hazel.
- Melasma: A common skin problem where brown to gray-brown patches appear, usually on the face.
- Rayleigh scattering: The scattering of light that occurs when the light particles are much larger than the wavelength of the light. This is part of what causes eyes to appear hazel.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Hazel
- Wikipedia's article - Hazel
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