1. Hair Examinations

2. Its basic components are keratin (a protein) and melanin (a pigment)
Hair : - A long slender outgrowth from the follicles of mammals – composing three regions (cuticle, cortex and medulla)
Its basic components are keratin (a protein) and melanin (a pigment)

3. What is a hair?

5. View through the Microscope

6. Except: Palms of hands, Soles of feet and Lips
Humans
Covers the entire body
Except: Palms of hands, Soles of feet and Lips

7. Cuticle – (Scales)

8. Cortex – (Body of the hair)

9. Medulla – (Central Canal)

10. Hairs Composed of Keratins
A stable form of evidence under many conditions
Serves to protect the body
Eyes- protects
Nose - filters
Head – thermal protection / physical protection
Growth – Anagen, Catagen, Telogen

11. Microscopic Examination of Hairs
Hair or Fiber?
Animal Hair? or
Human Hair?

12. Species Identification of Animal Hairs
Rabbit
Seal
Chinchilla
Fox

13. Identification of Animal Hairs
Scales
Color banding
Medulla morphology
Shaft Shape
Cow Hair

14. Identification of Animal Hairs
Scales

15. Scale Casting A negative cast of the scale pattern Microscope slides
Clear glue-like material
(Nail polish / hair spray)
Hair sample

16. Seal Hair

17. Scale Cast of a Seal Hair

18. Various Scale Patterns

19. Identification of Animal Hairs
Color banding

20. Identification of Animal Hairs
Medulla Morphology

21. Identification of Animal Hairs
Shaft Shape

22. Identification of Animal Hairs
Root Shape
Cat Root
Dog Root

23. Human Hairs
Huam

24. Human Hairs -Racial Origin
Anthropological Determination
Caucasian
Negroid
Mongoloid

25. Body Area Identification of Human Hairs
Head
Pubic
Body Hair
Limb
Chest
Eye brow / lash
Facial
Underarm
Head
Pubic

26. Means of Removal
Forcibly Removed or
Naturally Shed

27. Fresh Cut

28. Razor Cut

29. Split Ends

30. Ringed Hair

31. Artifacts

32. Damage
Crushed
Curler Damage

33. Artificial Treatment

34. Known Hair Sample Collection
Pulled from the donor – not cut
Placed in a sealed druggist fold and envelope
Represents entire area
At least 25 hairs
Collected as soon as possible

35. Hair Examinations:
Macroscopic – Screening 7x
Microscopic- Identification 40x, 200x

36. Hair Comparisons Head and Pubic only
Not a means of positive Identification
Can exclude a donor
Comparison microscope
Compare similar areas to each other
Some hairs are not suitable to compare

37. Types of Evidence to Process
Masks
Hats
Caps
Sweaters
Blankets
Stockings
Vacuum Debris
Combings
Windshields
Weapons