Animal hairs are classified into the following three basic types. Animal hairs are classified into the following three basic types

Animal hairs are classified into the following three basic types.

• Animal hairs are classified into the following three basic types.

• Guard hairs that form the outer coat of an animal and provide protection

• Fur or wool hairs that form the inner coat of an animal and provide insulation

• Tactile hairs (whiskers) located on the head provide sensory functions

• Types of hairs found on animals include tail hair and mane hair (horse, zebra).

Animal hairs can be classified into three groups based on their microscopic appearance.

• Animal hairs can be classified into three groups based on their microscopic appearance.

• Deer family and antelope

• Commercial fur animals

• Domestic animals

Deer and antelope species are distinguished by the cuticle scale pattern

• Deer and antelope species are distinguished by the cuticle scale pattern

• Very coarse overall diameter (approximately 300m)

• Medulla composed of spherical cells that occupy entire hair

• Diameter constant throughout most of hair

• Wineglass-shaped root

• Regular wave or crimp

Commercial fur animals are distinguished on the basis of their

• Commercial fur animals are distinguished on the basis of their

• Color or color bands

• Cuticle scale patterns

• Medullary structure

• Very fine to medium overall diameter (20 to 150μ)

• Characteristic medullary formations (series or spaced)

• Wide diameter variations in single hair

• Hairs generally banded

Domestic animals are distinguished by:

• Domestic animals are distinguished by:

• Root structure

• Medullary structure

• Pigmentation

• In order to distinguish between dog, cat, cow and horse, the root MUST be present.

• Medium overall diameter (75 to 150μ)

• Medulla generally amorphous

• Moderate diameter variation in single hair

• Hairs generally unbanded

• Characteristic root shapes

Scales shaped like a crown

• Scales shaped like a crown

• Found in small rodents and bats

• Crown pattern never seen in human hair

Spinous or petal-like scales are triangular in shape and protrude from the hair shaft.

• Spinous or petal-like scales are triangular in shape and protrude from the hair shaft.

• They are found at the proximal region of mink hairs and on the fur hairs of seals, cats, and some other animals.

• They are never found in human hairs.

The imbricate or flattened scales type consists of overlapping scales with narrow margins

• The imbricate or flattened scales type consists of overlapping scales with narrow margins

• They are commonly found in human hairs and many animal hairs

• This is the scale pattern in human hairs

Picture of a medulla pattern uniserial ladder

• Picture of a medulla pattern uniserial ladder

• Pattern is repeated over and over in the center of the hair shaft

• This hair is from a Guinea Pig

The picture below shows a multiserial ladder

• The picture below shows a multiserial ladder

• This type of medullary pattern is found in rodent hair

• This picture is of another type of rabbit hair

PICTURED BELOW IS THE CELLULAR TYPE OF MEDULLARY PATTERN

• PICTURED BELOW IS THE CELLULAR TYPE OF MEDULLARY PATTERN

• THE CENTER OF THE HAIR SHAFT IS HOLLOW IN APPEARANCE

• THIS IS A RED FOX HAIR

Lattice medullary pattern

• Lattice medullary pattern

• This pattern is found in the hairs of the deer family

Animal hairs are classified into the following four basic types.

• Animal hairs are classified into the following four basic types.

• Guard hairs that form the outer coat of an animal and provide protection

• Fur or wool hairs that form the inner coat of an animal and provide insulation

• Tactile hairs (whiskers) located on the head provide sensory functions

• Types of hairs found on animals include tail hair and mane hair (horse, zebra).

Ovoid bodies are large (larger than pigment granules), solid structures that are spherical to oval in shape, with very regular margins.

• Ovoid bodies are large (larger than pigment granules), solid structures that are spherical to oval in shape, with very regular margins.

• They are abundant in some cattle and dog hairs as well as in other animal hairs.

Diameter: fine; little variation

• Diameter: fine; little variation

• Medulla: uniserial ladder (fur hairs) continuous; occasionally vacuolated in coarser hairs

• Scales: spinous; very prominent

• May be banded

• Root: elongated, no distinct shape; fibrils frayed at base of root

Diameter: fine to coarse (usually coarser than cat hairs); diameter may vary to give short hairs a barrel-like appearance

• Diameter: fine to coarse (usually coarser than cat hairs); diameter may vary to give short hairs a barrel-like appearance

• Medulla: continuous, vacuolated to amorphous, occasionally very broad

• Scales: generally not prominent

• Unbanded: pigment occasionally very coarse and extending into root

• Root: spade-shaped