Unit 3: Hair Analysis

Class evidence

material that connects an individual or thing to a group that share similar characteristics

Comparison Microscope

equipment that allows the side-by-side comparison of hair samples

Cortex

the middle layer of the hair shaft that provides strength and contains granules of color pigment

Cortical Fusi

Irregularly shaped air spaces in the cortex of hair

Cuticle

the tough, clear, outer covering of a hair composed of overlapping scales

Hair Follicle

the actively growing root or base of a hair

Individual Evidence

a material that can be related to a single source

Keratin

a type of fibrous protein that makes up the majority of the cortex of a hair

Medulla

the spongy core of a hair fiber that gives it flexibility

Melanin Granules

bits of pigment found in the cortex of a hair

Metabolite

a specific product of a substance, formed by chemical processes in the body

Micrometer

one-millionth of a meter, or one thousandth of a millimeter

Morphology

form and structure

Neutron Activation Analysis

a method of analysis that determines composition of elements in a sample

Trace Evidence

small but measurable amounts of physical or biological material found at a crime scene