Hair, Fiber & Forensic Botany Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards generated from hair, fiber, microscopy, and forensic botany study materials.

Trace Evidence

Small physical evidence transferred between people, objects, and places during contact.

Cuticle

The outer protective layer of the hair shaft made of overlapping scales that point toward the tip.

Cortex

The thick middle layer of the hair shaft that contains pigment (melanin), cortical fusi, and ovoid bodies.

Medulla

The central core of the hair shaft, which may be absent, fragmented, interrupted, or continuous in humans.

Keratin

The tough protein that makes up most of the hair shaft.

Coronal Scale Pattern

A crown- or cup-like cuticle scale pattern associated with very fine hairs such as those of small rodents and bats.

Spinous Scale Pattern

A petal-like or pointed cuticle scale pattern protruding from the shaft, found in animals like cats and not in normal human hair.

Imbricate Scale Pattern

A flattened, overlapping cuticle scale pattern resembling roof shingles, commonly found in human hair.

Medullary Index

The ratio of the diameter of the medulla to the diameter of the entire hair shaft, calculated as $\text{medulla diameter} \times \text{shaft diameter}^{-1}$.

Follicular Tag

Tissue attached to a forcibly removed hair root that contains nucleated cells capable of providing nuclear DNA.

Papilla

A structure at the base of the hair follicle involved in supplying nutrients and signals to the growing hair through surrounding tissue.

Arrector Pili Muscle

A tiny smooth muscle attached to the hair follicle that contracts to produce goosebumps.

Sebaceous Gland

A gland associated with the hair follicle that secretes sebum, an oily substance that lubricates skin and hair.

Anagen Phase

The active growth stage of the hair cycle in which cells in the follicle actively divide and hair is produced.

Catagen Phase

The short transition stage of hair growth where growth stops and the follicle transitions into a resting state.

Telogen Phase

The resting and shedding stage of the hair cycle where active growth has stopped and the hair eventually sheds.

Lanugo

Very fine, soft hair associated with fetal development and certain body conditions.

Vellus

Short, fine, lightly pigmented hair covering much of the human body.

Terminal Hair

Thicker, longer, and more heavily pigmented hair such as scalp hair, beard hair, and adult body hair.

Natural Fibers

Fibers derived directly from plant sources (e.g., cotton, flax, hemp) or animal sources (e.g., wool, silk).

Regenerated Fibers

Manufactured fibers produced by chemically processing naturally occurring polymer materials such as cellulose (e.g., rayon).

Synthetic Fibers

Manufactured fibers produced entirely from chemically manufactured polymers (e.g., nylon, polyester, acrylic).

Direct Transfer

The movement of a fiber directly from the original source to a contacted person or object.

Secondary Transfer

The movement of a fiber from its original source to an intermediary, and subsequently to another person or object.

Comparison Microscope

A optical system that allows questioned and known specimens to be viewed side-by-side for comparison.

Forensic Botany

The study and application of plant evidence—such as pollen, seeds, leaves, and wood—in criminal and legal investigations.

Palynology

The scientific study of pollen and spores.