What is the primary component found in hair follicles?

The primary component found in hair follicles is keratin. Keratin is a fibrous protein that forms the structural backbone of hair, skin, and nails. In hair follicles, keratin is produced by specialized cells called keratinocytes, which undergo a process of keratinization as they move upward through the layers of the follicle. This process is crucial for creating the strength and resilience of hair strands.

Melanin is involved in giving hair its color but is not the primary structural component. Collagen is a protein that provides strength and elasticity to connective tissues, including skin, but it does not play a direct role in the structure of hair itself. Glycogen serves as an energy storage molecule and does not have a structural role in hair follicles. Thus, keratin is the correct answer as it is the fundamental building block that forms the hair itself.