1. Characteristics of Hair

2. Investigate
You will be using your knowledge of hair to distinguish among different species of animals
Use what you learn in this PowerPoint to help you know what to look for in each specimen to find similarities and differences.

3. Anatomy of a Hair

5. Follicle
Hair is an appendage of the skin that grows out of a hair follicle.

6. Hair Roots
Pulled Forcibly Removed Shed

7. Structure of the Hair
Cortex
Cuticle
Medulla

8. Cuticle The cuticle is the outside covering of the hair.
It is formed by overlapping scales that always point toward the tip of the hair.

9. These scales are formed from special cells that are hardened and flattened while progressing from the follicle.

10. Close up of cuticle Which way is the end of the shaft?
Each cuticle pattern is unique for each individual animal and for each specie.

11. Cortex the interior of the hair
embedded with pigment granules that impart color to hair
composed of spindle-shaped cortical cells aligned in a regular array, parallel to the length of the hair

12. Cortex the interior of the hair
embedded with pigment granules that impart color to hair
composed of spindle-shaped cortical cells aligned in a regular array, parallel to the length of the hair

13. Pigment granules are absent in grey hairs

14. Medulla
a collection of cells which appear as a canal running though the center of the hair
the medulla is the most predominant hair feature in many species
The medulla may be absent in blond hair

15. Medulla:

16. Types of Medulla Continuous-Interrupted-Fragmented.
Serial medulla is the term used to a describe multiple medulla within a single hair

17. Examination of the Medulla

18. Type of Medulla?

19. Human Hairs
Racial Determination
Negroid
Mongoloid
Caucasian