Forensice 2 H Hair and Fibers Study Guide

Hair Follicle

A club shaped structure in the skin that supplies nutrients to the hair to feed it and help it grow.

Hair Shaft

The hair that is shown above the skin which is one of the parts that makes up a hair

Medulla

The center of a hair

Cortex

The largest part of the hair shaft, contains the most melanin granules that give the hair its color

Cuticle

A transparent outer layer of the hair shaft made of overlapping scales that protect the inner layer of hair 

Keratin

A Protein produced in the skin that makes hair both strong and flexible

Natural Fiber

Fibers that come from plants, animals, or minerals that are made of naturally occurring materials.

Synthetic Fiber

Man made fibers produced from chemical compounds

Direct Transfer

When fibers move from one source to another through physical contact

Fiber

A thin strand of natural or synthetic material that can be spun into yarn and used to make fabric.

Mineral Fiber

A type of fiber made from minerals like asbestos or fiberglass, formed by separating or spinning the materials into filaments

Secondary Transfer

When fibers are transferred from an original source to an intermediate surface, and then to another object or person

Textile

A flexible material made by weaving, knitting, or bonding fibers together; includes fabrics and cloth used for clothing and furnishings

Yarn

A continuous strand of fibers twisted or spun together, used to make textiles or fabrics.

Medullary Index?

0.333 or Less is Human, 0.5 or more is Animal, in between in unkown

Medullary Index Formula

Medulla (mm) / Cortex (mm) = Medullary Index

First Box

Medulla

Second Box

Cortex

Where would the Hair Follicle be?

The segment Underneath the skin that contains DNA

Fourth Box

Cuticle