Tennessee Barber Practice Exam

The lower part of the hair root that covers the dermal papilla is known as the hair bulb. This is where the hair cells are actively dividing and where the hair growth occurs. The hair shaft (option A) is the visible part of the hair above the skin's surface and does not cover the dermal papilla. The hair follicle (option B) is the pocket in the skin where the hair root is located, but it does not cover the dermal papilla itself. The hair papilla (option D) is the structure at the base of the hair follicle that supplies nutrients to the hair cells, but it is not a protective cover over the dermal papilla. Therefore, the closest and most accurate answer choice is C, hair bulb.