1. Identification of species through microscopy.
Hair Analysis
Identification of species through microscopy.

2. Collection of Hair Specimen

3. Examination of the Medulla

4. Patterns in Animal Species
Examination of Scale Pattern

5. Human Hairs
Racial Determination
African
Asian
European

6. Hair Roots
Pulled Forcibly Removed Shed

7. Tip of the Shaft
Burned Cut Razored Split

8. Identification of Hair
Differentiation between human and animal hair

9. So --- How CAN we tell human hair from animal hair??

10. MEDULLA
The medulla is the core of a hair – it is, however, not always present.
There are several types and patterns.
TYPES:
Continuous—most animals
(seldom humans)
Intermittent or interrupted
(mostly medulla with some gaps)—
human pubic hair, sometimes head hair
Fragmented (mostly gaps
with some medulla)—mostly human hair
Absent—human head hair only

11. Medula Patterns Uniserial--small blocks in a row
Multiserial--several rows of blocks
Uniserial--small blocks in a row
Vacuolated--uneven pattern
Lattice--circular patterns
Amorphous--without a specific pattern

12. HAIR MEDULLA Cow Cat Horse Muskrat Rabbit -- Multiserial
Rabbit -- Uniserial
Goat
Dog
Bat

13. Medulla: Present
Medullary Index: More than 1/2
Medulla Pattern: Vacuolated
Species: Goat

14. Medulla – present
Medullary Index – more than ½
Medulla Pattern – Vacuolated/amorphous
Root – Spade - shaped
Species: Dog

15. Medulla – present
Medullary index – more than ½
Medulla pattern – multiserial
Species -- Rabbit

16. Human or animal? Medulla – present Medullary Index – more than 1/2
Medulla pattern – uniserial
Root -- frayed
Species -- Cat

17. Now Take a look at some slides of different kinds of hair, straight from the FBI. Can you guess what hair is human and what hair isn't?

18. 1

19. 2

20. 3

21. 4

22. 5

23. 6

24. Hair #1
No 1 is human head hair of Caucasian origin. Caucasian hairs come in the widest variety of colors, can be of fine to medium coarseness and are generally straight or wavy. In addition, the shafts vary from round to oval in cross section. Finally, color pigments are fine- to medium-sized and are evenly distributed throughout the shaft.

25. Hair # 2.
This is a deer hair. Unlike that of any other animal, the root of deer hair has a wine-glass shape: a narrow root that gradually widens. In addition, the medulla, or inner layer of cells, consists of spherical cells that take up the whole width of the hair in a repeating pattern of different shapes, such as a hexagonal shape, depending on what member of the deer family the subject belongs to.

26. Hair #3
This is a human head hair of Afro-Caribbean origin. Such hairs are generally curly or kinky, and have a flattened cross section. Larger than those of other racial groups, its pigment particles are grouped in clumps of different sizes and shapes and may be so dense that they render the hair opaque. Furthermore, the hair shaft may vary — or seem to vary — in diameter because of its flattened nature and the way it settles on the microscope slide

27. Hair #4
This is a cat hair. Cat hair has fibrous roots and its pigment particles do not run down to the root. In addition, its medulla, or inner layer of cells, is thicker than that of dog hair.

28. Hair #5
This is a human head hair of Asian origin. Such hair is generally coarse, straight and circular in cross section. Its diameter is wider than the hair of other racial groups, and the outer layer of the hair, the cuticle, is usually significantly thicker. The medulla, or inner layer of cells, is continuous and wide. In addition, the hair shaft contains pigment particles that are generally larger than those of Caucasian hairs, and often appear to be grouped in patchy areas. Finally, the hair may have a reddish appearance, a product of its pigment.

29. Hair #6
This is a dog hair. Dog hair has spade-like roots and its pigmentation runs down throughout the shaft to the root. Its medulla, or inner layer of cells, is thinner, too, than that of cat hair.

30. CUTICLE SCALES
Mosaic Pectinate Imbricate Petal Diamond Petal Chevron

32. Human Cuticle

33. Cuticle Scales
HUMAN CUTICLE SCALES
DOG CUTICLE SCALES

44. DO OUR FINGERNAILS AND HAIR CONTINUE TO GROW AFTER WE DIE?
ASK "WEEKSTER"                                                                                                             
DO OUR FINGERNAILS AND HAIR CONTINUE TO GROW AFTER WE DIE?

45. Answer:
NO! The body will dehydrate soon after death, shrinking as a result. The fingernails and hair will appear to grow. Just an optical illusion!!