MICROSCOPY of HAIR
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If you have issues------------------' viewing or accessing this file contact us at NCJRS.gov. , . " FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE MICROSCOPY of HAIR A Practical Guide and Manual \ o '. ! 1:" ----- ---------------------- , '~---·'---·----~---~·~·-_·~_ ..... _""'. ___ ._~k ___ ~ _________ .~~ _______ .__ ~.'_.~_."___~ _____._._'"~ .. ~_.~ _____ .____ , ___ _' ___ .~ ____________ _ #1 .... ,,!A ':v IJ ~' MICROSCOPY OF HAIRS A Publication of the A Practical Guide and Manual Federal Bureau of Investigation JOHN W. HICKS Special Agent Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI Laboratory Washington, D.C. U.S. Department of Justice National Institute of Justice This document has been reproduced exactly as received from the person or organization originating it. Points of view or opinions stated in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the National Institute of Justice. I , \ to the National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS). Further reproduction outside of the NCJRS system requires permis sion of the copyright owner. Issue 2 i '.1 I '~, 1 ,j':, ~ '] January, 1977 I '" This work is an introductory manual to the microscopic examination '1: and identification of hairs. Information set forth herein is intended as a practical guide to provide a foundation on which to build further knowledge and experience. This publication is intended for the use of law enforcement personnel and should be afforded appropriate security. ·t OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT o Ii' JUSTICE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION WASHINGTON. D.C. 20535 This technical supplement on "Microscopy of Hairs" was written by the Microscopic Analysis Unit of the Laboratory Branch, Scientific and Technical Services Division, Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is intended for the use of the personnel of law enforcement crime laboratories. The value of properly collected and later scientifically examined physical evidence by the crime laboratory cannot be over emphasized. It is an essential element of our criminal justice system. Each photomicrograph contained in this manual depicts actual hair specimens enlarged up to 320 times and illustrates the subtle variations in color between specimens and within individual specimens. These variations will serve as a basis for accurate individualizRtion. It is hoped the "Microscopy of Hairs" will be valuable as a guide in the crime laboratory to facilitate and .:t:; speed the examination process and further promote maximum use of physical evidence in our criminal justice system of America. Clarence M. Kelley Director, FBI , - ~~----~-~ (" .,', ;. 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CONTENTS Basic Structure of Hair ....................... , ................ 1 Human Hairs - Introduction .................................... 6 Determination of Body Area and Racial Origin ............... 7 Comparison Characteristics ............................... 10 Conclusions .............................................. 24 Other Techniques for I ndividualization of Hairs ............. 24 Animal Hairs - Microscopic Identification ....................... 28 Deer Family and Antelope ................................. 29 Commercial Fur Animals .................................. 32 Domestic Animals ........................................ 38 Report Writing and Testimony ................................. 41 Slide Preparation ............................................ 43 Some Principles of Microscopy ................................ 45 Basic Parts of the Compound Microscope ..................... 47 Glossary ..................................................... 50 Bibliography ................................................. 52 I . ! \ .. 't ••.• . NCJRS .!. !,., JUN 5 1~81 .. ACQUISJTIONS· ",.' BASIC STRUCTURE OF HAIR A hair may be defined as a slender threadlike olltgrowth from the follicles of the skin of mammals, composed essentially of keratin and having three anatomical regions: The cuticle, the cortex and the medulla. These regions are depicted in the following diagram along with some of the basic structures found within those regions. Note that the cuticular scales always point from the proximal or root end of the hair to the distal or tip end of the hair (Fig. 1). It should be noted that the sketch below as well as others included in the text are diagrammatic in nature and are llsed to emphasize structural features being discussed. Certain structures may be omitted and others enhanced for purposes of illustration. A growing hair is generated from the papilla and, with the exception of that point of generation, consists of dead, cornified cells. Its basic constituents are keratin (a protein) and melanin (a pigment) with trace quantities of metallic elements. These elements may be deposited in the hair during its growth or may be contaminants absorbed and adsorbed by the hair from an external en~ vironment. After a period of growth, the hair will remain in the follicle in a "resting" stage and will eventually be sloughed from the body. ,,;- ,"" ! distal .. f"-· . ..,' .. \ medulfa L~~~~' ," .,_ I, •. pi' Ai ... - . •• •• ~1IIIt' • ~~ ovoid body proximal cortical fusi Figure 1 2. Spinous or petal-like. These are more or less triangular-shaped scales which frequently protrude from the hail' shaft (Fig. 4). Spinous scales hair may be found on the proximal end of mink hairs, on the fur hairs of seals, cats and certain other animals. They are never found in human hairs. :·-.·, ... ; .. ··.::.;.... i.' .1 .....- : epi'd ermls. dermis . ; Figure 4 ~ sebaceous gland 3. Imbricate or flattened. These are overlapping scales with narrow margins and are found on the hairs of humans and other animals (Fig. 5). papilla sub-c!Jtaneous tissue capillary Figure 5 Figure 2 . !he hair consists of a shaft which projects above the skin and a root which The medulla is a central core of cells which mayor may not be present in IS Imbe~ded in the skin. The lower end of the root expands to form the root the hair. It may be air-filled and, ifsd, will appear as a black or opaque struc bulb (Fig. 2). ture under transmitted light or a white structure under reflected light. It may \',1 The cu.ticle consists of a layer of scales covering the hair shaft. There are also be filled with mounting medium or some other cleat' substance in which three bas~c sc~le structures (although there may be many more combinations case the structure may appear clear or translucent in transmitted light and and modificatIOns of these structures) and these are: nearly invisible in reflected light. If the medulla is present, its structure may \ be described as (L) fragmentary (or trace), (2) discontinuous (or broken), or l. Coronal. or crown·like . These a'( lee 'h aractenstlc" 0 f h mrs. of very fine (3) continuous throughout the hair shaft. diameter ancl resemble a stack of paper cups (Fig. 3). Coronal scales are '"" comm~nly encountered in the hairs of small rodents and bats and only ~ ., rarely 111 human hairs. fragmentary .. .. discontinuous I I ..... au Lei I • A -.... continuous .,.. .111:l1li ...• , ....• •• IIM i <, I Figure 6 In human hairs the medulla is generally amorphous in appearance whereas in hairs from lower animals its structure is frequently very regular and well defined. These medulla types may be defined as: Figure 3 1. uniserial or multiscrial ladder (both types found in rabbit hairs) !' 2 3 , uniseiial 000000000 multiserial DOOOOOOOO ladder OODOOOOOO 000000000 vacuolated lattice Figure 8 Ovoid bodies-cattle hair (313X) amorphous Figure 7 2. cellular or vacuolated (common in hairs of many animals) 3. lattice (deer family hairs). The cortex is the main body of the hair and is composed of elongated and fusiform (spindle-shaped) cells. The cortex may contain air spaces called cor tical fusi, pigment granules, and large oval-shaped structures referred to as ovoid bod ies. Cortical fusi (Fig. 9) are irregular-shaped, air spaces of varying shapes and sizes. They are normally found near the root of mature human hairs and their \ presence may persist throughout the hair shaft. Pigment granules moe small, dark, solid structures which are granular in ap pearance and considerably smaller than cortical fusi, They may vary in color, size, and distribution within a single hair and among animal species. Ovoid structures (Fig. 8) are large (much larger than pigment granules), solid bodies which are spherical to oval in shape with velY regular margins. They may be encount.::red in abundance in some cattle hairs and seen occa I '~1 sionally in human hairs from certain individuals. :,! ;1 Figure 9 Cortical fusi-Caucasian Head hair (313X) 4 5 i.al·~··I . I ~, ' --~------------- ------"- -~ -----" - - - - -- - -" - - -~- ~---~ ~~--~---... ---------.- .-.-,,--.----~.,-.----.-.--.. --.-.-,--.----.:------.--~.--.--.. ------"~.--- HUMAN HAIRS sential that a comparison microscope be utilized for this stage of the examina INTRODUCTION tion so that the specimens may be compared on a direct, side-by-side basis. The variations or characteristics enable an experienced examiner to dis tinguish between hairs from different individuals. Based on this comparison, the examiner may conclude (1) that the hairs are consistent or similar and could have come from the