Hairs & FibersHairs & Fibers

Morphology and Structure of HairMorphology and Structure of Hair

Morphology: CuticleMorphology: Cuticle• Protective coating made of

overlapping scales, produce a characteristic pattern

• Scales always point toward tip of hair

• Not useful in individualizing human hair

• Can be used for species identification

http://www.pg.com/science/haircare/hair_twh_35/hair_twh_35_02.jpg

Morphology: CortexMorphology: Cortex• Made of spindle-

shaped cells aligned in a regular array, parallel to the length of the hair

• Embedded with pigment granules that give hair its color

• The color, shape and distribution of the granules provide points for forensic comparison

www.pg.com/science/haircare/hair_twh_59.htm

Morphology: MedullaMorphology: Medulla

• canal like structure of cells that runs through the center of the cortex (pg. 53)

Medullary IndexMedullary Index

• Measure of the diameter of the medulla relative to the diameter of the hair shaft

• Usually expressed as a fraction– Humans: medullary index < 1/3– Animals: medullary index > 1/2

Medullae of Different Species

Medullae of Different Species

Medulla of Different SpeciesMedulla of Different Species

Forensic Analysis of MedullaForensic Analysis of Medulla• Presence of medulla varies quite a bit: even hair

to hair• Human head hairs generally have no medulla or

may be fragmented ones; except Mongoloid (Asian) race whose medulla is usually continuous

• Most animals have medulla that is continuous or interrupted

• The shape of the medulla can help identify a species

• Examples:• Most animals and humans: cylindrical • Cats: pearl shape • Deer: spherical occupying whole hair shaft

Identification and Comparison of HairIdentification and Comparison of Hair• Morphological Characteristics do not allow

individualization of a human hair to any single head or body

• Hair when collected with an adequate number of standards/references can provide strong circumstantial evidence

• Scale structure, medullary index, and medullary shape are most often used for hair comparison

• Evidential value lies with degree of probability associated with a questioned hair and an particular individual

• 11 percent of all morphological hair matches are generally found to be non-matches—meaning microscopic hair comparisons are presumptive in nature—must be confirmed by DNA comparisons

Can the racial origin of hair be determined?Can the racial origin of hair be determined?

• Forensic terms: Caucasian, Negroid, Mongoloid

• Mongoloid has continuous medullae

• Caucasian has even distribution of pigment in cortex

• Negroid has unevenly distributed pigment.

Hair from different parts of the bodyHair from different parts of the body• Scientists distinguish 6 types of hair on the

human body: head hair, eyebrows/eyelashes/ beard/mustache, underarm, body hair, and pubic hair

• Eye hairs are usually saber-like and stubby• Facial hairs have a coarse diameter and the

medulla may be doubled• Underarm hairs resemble pubic hairs, but are

less wiry• Pubic hairs have a coarse diameter, buckling is

present, and the medulla is continuous (when present)

Beard, arm, and pubic hairsBeard, arm, and pubic hairs

Differences between animal hairs and human hairsDifferences between animal hairs and human hairs• There are three basic scale structures that

make up the cuticle—coronal (crown-like), spinous (petal-like), and imbricate (flattened). Combinations and variations of these types are possible.

Differences between animal hairs and human hairsDifferences between animal hairs and human hairs• The coronal, or crown-like scale pattern is

found in hairs of very fine diameter and resemble a stack of paper cups. Coronal scales are commonly found in the hairs of small rodents and bats but rarely in human hairs.

Differences between animal hairs and human hairsDifferences between animal hairs and human hairs• Spinous or petal-like scales are triangular

in shape and protrude from the hair shaft. They are found at the proximal region of mink hairs and on the fur hairs of seals, cats, and some other animals. They are never found in human hairs.

http://www.fbi.gov/hq/lab/fsc/backissu/jan2004/research/2004_01_research01b.htm

Differences between animal hairs and human hairsDifferences between animal hairs and human hairs The imbricate or flattened scales type

consists of overlapping scales with narrow margins. They are commonly found in human hairs and many animal hairs.

Differences between animal hairs and human hairsDifferences between animal hairs and human hairs• Human hairs are generally consistent in color

and pigmentation throughout the length of the hair shaft, whereas animal hairs may exhibit radical color changes in a short distance, called banding.

• The distribution and density of pigment in animal hairs can also be identifiable features. The pigmentation of human hairs is evenly distributed, or slightly more dense toward the cuticle, whereas the pigmentation of animal hairs is more centrally distributed, although more dense toward the medulla.

• The medulla, when present in human hairs, is amorphous in appearance, and the width is generally less than one-third the overall diameter of the hair shaft. The medulla in animal hairs is normally continuous and structured and generally occupies an area of greater than one-third the overall diameter of the hair shaft.

Fibers: NaturalFibers: Natural• Derived entirely from animal or

plant sources• Most prevalent plant fiber is cotton. • Its widespread use has made its

evidential value almost meaningless

• Cotton has a ribbon-like shape with twists at regular intervals

• Animal sources include sheep (wool), goats (mohair, cashmere) and many other sources

http://www.swicofil.com/images/cotton_microscopic.jpg http://www.e4s.org.uk/textilesonline/content/6library/report1/images/microscope_2.gif

Wool

Cotton

Man-Made FibersMan-Made Fibers

• Fibers derived from either natural or synthetic polymers

• The fibers are made by forcing polymeric material through the holes of a spinneret

• Rayon and then nylon were the first two man-made fibers (year 1911)

http://www.naturalvisions.co.uk/pictures/thumbnail/XMIC_0021_0001XX.jpg

Man-Made Fibers Con’tMan-Made Fibers Con’t• Regenerated Fibers

– Made from regenerated cellulose (wood or cotton pulp)

– Include such fibers as rayon, acetate, and triacetate

• Synthetic Fibers – Currently manufactured– Made from synthetic chemicals called polymers– Include such fibers as nylons, polyesters, and acrylics

ID and Comparison of Man-Made FibersID and Comparison of Man-Made Fibers• Fabrics that can be fitted together at their torn edge are

easy to match• Microscopic comparison of color and diameter• Comparison of lengthwise striations and pitting on the

surface of a fiber• The shape of the fiber—ex. Wayne Williams case

– Cross sections are generally helpful

• Note: Combined factors of color, size, shape, microscopic appearance, chemical composition, and dye content make it very unlikely to find two different people wearing identical fabrics