Unit 5 Forensics Vocabulary

Comparison microscope

tool that allows for simultaneous viewing & comparison of two objects side by side under magnification

Hair shaft

visible portion of hair that extends from skin’s surface

Cortex

central layer of a hair shaft, responsible for color & shape

Keratin

fibrous protein that makes us hair, nails etc.

Melanin granules

small pigment-containing particles within the hair shaft that determine is color

Cuticle

outermost layer of the hair, overlapping scales that protect the inner layer

Medulla

central core of a hair shaft, composed of vacuoles & cells

Medullary index

ratio of the diameter of the medulla to diameter of the entire hair shaft

Hair follicle

structure in the skin from which hair grows—> containing hair root

Follicular tag

small piece of tissue attached to a hair strand when forcibly removed

epidermis

outermost, visible layer of the skin

dermis

deeper, thicker, layer of skin found beneath epidermis

anagen

active growth phase of a hair follicle

Catagen

transitional stage of hair growth

Telogen

resting phase of hair growth cycle

Nuclear DNA

dna found within the nucleus of a cell

Mitochondrial DNA

Dna found within the mitochondria

Morphology

study of the form, structure, and shape of biological materials like hair, bones, teeth, to help identify or determine source of evidence