Parts of the Hair
What is the outermost layer of a hair strand called?
What is the cuticle?
What is the main difference between human hair and animal hair in terms of structure?
What is the size of the diameter of the medulla compared to the diameter of the hair shaft (medullary index)?
What is the first step in collecting hair evidence from a crime scene?
What is securing the area?
What is hair considered in forensic science? Class or individual?
What is class evidence? As it can be associated with a particular group but cannot definitively identify an individual unless the follicle is present.
What is one characteristic of Caucasian hair?
What is often straight or wavy, and the strands are usually fine to medium in diameter?
What part of the hair contains the DNA?
What is the hair follicle?
How can the color of hair be assessed under a microscope?
What is by examining the pigment granules?
What type of container is best for collecting hair samples?
What is a paper envelope (bindle)?
What type of evidence (physical or biological) is hair classified as?
What is biological evidence?
How does African hair typically differ in texture?
What is often curly or coiled and can be coarse in texture?
What is the term for the part of the hair that extends above the skin?
What is the shaft?
What can you tell by observing the shape of the hair cross-section?
What is the texture of the hair?
Why is it important to collect hair samples from multiple locations?
What is to ensure a representative sample?
Can hair evidence be individualized? Why or why not?
No? Hair evidence typically cannot be individualized to a specific person unless DNA testing is performed on a present follicle.
What feature is commonly found in Asian hair?
What is typically straight and has a thick diameter with a round cross-section?
Which component of hair gives it its strength and structure?
What is keratin?
Describe one macro property of hair that forensic scientists analyze.
What is the length, color, texture, or thickness of the hair?
What should you avoid doing when collecting hair evidence?
What is touching the hair with your hands?
What is the importance of the hair shaft in forensic analysis?
What is color, texture, and other characteristics that can help in identification?
How can the origin of hair be determined microscopically?
What is the cuticle, medulla, and cortex characteristics?
Name the three main parts of a hair strand.
What are the cuticle, cortex, and medulla?
What is the best type of microscope analyzing and comparing two strands of hair?
What is a comparison microscope?
Name one method used to prevent contamination of hair samples during collection.
What is wearing gloves?
How can you tell if hair evidence has been forcibly removed or has fallen out naturally?
What is the presence of the hair follicle?
What are the four medulla patterns?