University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh UNIVERSITY OF GHANA COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES LIGHT MICROSCOPIC STUDY OF INDIGENOUS GHANAIAN FEMALE SCALP HAIR WITH RESPECT TO STYLING PROCEDURES BY ESTHER ADJOA ESSEL (ID. NO. 10442229) THIS THESIS IS SUBMITTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF GHANA, LEGON IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD OF MPHIL ANATOMY DEGREE DEPARTMENT OF ANATOMY JULY, 2015 University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh DECLARATION BY THE CANDIDATE I hereby declare that this thesis is the product of research I have personally undertaken under supervision and that neither the whole document nor part of it has been presented anywhere else for a degree. Signature…………………….. Date……/………/……… (Esther Adjoa Essel) DECLARATION BY THE SUPERVISORS We hereby declare that the practical work and presentation of this thesis were supervised in accordance with guidelines on supervision of thesis laid down by the University of Ghana. Principal Supervisor Signature……………………. Date……/………/…….. (Professor Frederick K. Addai) Co-Supervisor Signature ………………..… Date ……/………/…….. (Doctor Saviour Adjenti) Co-Supervisor Signature………………….. Date ……/………/……... (Doctor Bismarck A. Hottor) i University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh DEDICATION This work is dedicated to the memory of my late sister Ms. Florence Aba Essel. I also dedicate this work to Mr. Paul Atiah and Mrs. Sethina Adjetey for the instrumental roles they played in getting this document completed in its current state and on time. ii University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My foremost gratitude goes to the Almighty God by whose grace and mercies I have come this far. I am most grateful to my supervisors Professor. Frederick K. Addai, Dr. Saviour Adjenti and Dr. Bismarck Hottor, who made time off their always busy work schedules to scrutinise this work so it could be presented in its possible best form. To Mrs. Amponsah and the headmistress of St. Mary’s Senior High School, Korle Bu, as well as the Chairman of Greenhill School of Health Sciences, Mallam, I am exceptionally grateful for allowing students of their respective institutions to partake in the study. My heart goes out to all the study participants without whose hair, this research would have remained a proposal. Thank you so very much. I thank the University of Ghana, my employer, for the opportunity to climb higher the academic ladder and especially for the provision made to ensure I did so with all the focus required. The Department of Anatomy is highly appreciated for its contribution in getting me enrolled in the programme in the first place and subsequently, its financial commitment to me during the entire period of the programme. To all lecturers, colleague workers, fellow students, friends and loved ones whose efforts and contributions in diverse forms made this academic pursuit a success, God bless you. Finally, to the entire Essel family, I say thank you for the immense support you gave me throughout the study period. This is your success too. iii University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION BY THE CANDIDATE ................................................................. i DECLARATION BY THE SUPERVISORS ............................................................. i DEDICATION………………...................................................................................... ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...................................................................................... iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................... iv LIST OF TABLES………….. ................................................................................. viii LIST OF FIGURES………………………………………………………………… x ABSTRACT………… ............................................................................................. xiii CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ........................................................................ 1 1.0 Overview: Hair in human interactions ..................................................................... 1 1.1 Women and hair…… ............................................................................................... 3 1.2 Hair care practices among Ghanaian females .......................................................... 4 1.2.1 Natural Hair .......................................................................................................... 6 1.2.2 Chemically Relaxed Hair ...................................................................................... 7 1.2.3 Heat style .............................................................................................................. 8 1.2.4 Braids and Twists .................................................................................................. 8 1.2.5 Weaves .................................................................................................................. 9 1.2.6 Effect of grooming and styling on hair ............................................................... 10 1.3 Problem statement………….. ................................................................................ 11 1.4 Justification………………. ................................................................................... 12 1.5 Aim…………………… ........................................................................................ 13 1.6 Specific Objectives……………………………………………………………. 13 1.7 Hypothesis………………...................................................................................... 13 iv University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW ......................................................... 14 2.0 Structure of hair…………… ................................................................................. 14 2.0.1 The cuticle ........................................................................................................... 14 2.0.2 The cortex ........................................................................................................... 19 2.0.3 The medulla ........................................................................................................ 19 2.1 Classification of human hair .................................................................................. 20 2.2 Morphogenesis of hair ........................................................................................... 22 2.3 Follicular Units………….. .................................................................................... 25 2.4 Hair cycle………………….. ................................................................................. 27 2.5 Control of the hair cycle ........................................................................................ 30 2.6 Hair pigmentation……..………………………………………………………… 31 2.7 Functions of hair………… .................................................................................... 33 2.8 Androgens and hair growth .................................................................................... 38 2.9 Hair aging………………....................................................................................... 39 2.9.1 Hair weathering ................................................................................................... 39 2.9.2 Hair graying ........................................................................................................ 40 2.9.3 Hair loss (Androgenic alopecia) ......................................................................... 42 2.10 Significance of human hair .................................................................................. 45 2.11 Microscopic examination of hair ......................................................................... 47 2.12 Morphological studies on hair in Ghana .............................................................. 49 CHAPTER THREE: MATERIALS AND METHODS ......................................... 50 3.0 General……………….. ......................................................................................... 50 3.0.1 Study design ........................................................................................................ 50 3.0.2 Ethical consideration ........................................................................................... 50 3.0.3 Study site ............................................................................................................. 50 3.0.4 Subject/Study population .................................................................................... 51 3.0.5 Sample size determination .................................................................................. 51 3.0.6 Sample collection procedures ............................................................................. 52 v University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 3.1 Light microscopy .............................................................................................. 52 3.1.1 Hair sample preparation ...................................................................................... 52 3.1.2 Whole mount, scale preparations and microscopy ............................................. 53 3.2 Structural features of hair examined ...................................................................... 53 3.2.1 Quantitative features ........................................................................................... 54 3.2.1.1 Hair shaft and medullary diameters ................................................................. 54 3.2.1.2 Mean scale count and interval between