Forensics: Hair Terms for Quiz

cuticle

outermost region of a hair composed of overlapping scales

cortex

the region of a hair enclosed between the cuticle and the medulla region

medulla

region of hair located in the center of the cortex

root

found at the proximal end of the hair, contains the DNA, linked to the blood system when still attached

follicular tag

translucent tissue surrounding the hair's shaft near the root

pigment granules

small, membrane-bounded vesicles containing pigment/pigment molecules

cortical fusi

small, pockets of air found in the hair shaft

anagenic

active hair growth phase, lasts about 5 years

catagenic

the end of active hair growth, cuts individual hairs off from the blood supply and from cells that produce new hair

telogenic

rest stage of hair, it is common to lose hair during this period

control hairs

hairs found on the victim, suspect, or perpetrator

questioned hairs

hairs found at the crime scene that are from an unknown source