What are 3 characteristics of hair that can be used to determine if the hair is human or animal?

Hair viewed for forensic investigations is studied both macroscopically and microscopically. Length, color, and curliness are macroscopic characteristics. Microscopic characteristics include the pattern of the medulla, pigmentation of the cortex, and types of scales on the cuticle (Figure 3-12).

What are some characteristics of the fur of mammals?

Mammalian hair can take on several different forms, including thick fur, long whiskers, defensive quills, and even horns.

What are the different characteristics between animal hair and human hair?

The root of human hairs is commonly club-shaped, whereas the roots of animal hairs are highly variable between animals. The scale pattern of the cuticle in human hairs is routinely imbricate. Animal hairs exhibit more variable scale patterns. The shape of the hair shaft is also more variable in animal hairs.

What is mammalian hair made of and what are its functions?

Mammalian hair, made of a protein called keratin, serves at least four functions. First, it slows the exchange of heat with the environment (insulation). Second, specialized hairs (whiskers) have a sensory function, letting the owner know when it is in contact with an object in its external environment.

What four characteristics determine the behavior of hair?

There are four characteristics that determine the behavior of hair. They are: hairlines and growth patterns, density, texture, and elasticity.

What properties of human hair can be used in identifying the person from where it came?

If the hair is from a human, the examiner will determine the part of the body from which it originated. Some of the features that the examiner uses include length, shape, size, color, stiffness, curliness, pigmentation, and the appearance of the medulla.

What are the types of hair in mammals?

According to Kamal Khidas, curator of the vertebrate collection at the Canadian Museum of Nature, there are three types of hair in mammals that make up their fur: vibrissae, which are sensitive tactile receptors, such as whiskers, used for sensing the environment; guard hairs, the most conspicuous hairs, which serve as …

What are the 7 characteristics of mammals?

Characteristics of Mammals

  • The presence of hair or fur.
  • Sweat glands.
  • Glands specialized to produce milk, known as mammary glands.
  • Three middle ear bones.
  • A neocortex region in the brain, which specializes in seeing and hearing.
  • Specialized teeth.
  • A four-chambered heart.

What are the differences between human and other mammalian hairs?

The key difference between human and animal hair is the ability to grow. The human hair does not stop growing while the animal hair stops growing at a certain stage. Hence, the human hair is much longer than the animal hair. Furthermore, unlike the human hair, the animal hair provides a protective function.

Which characteristics of the hair are important for forensic analysis?

A number of microscopic characteristics associated with the cuticle are used in a hair comparison. The thickness of the cuticle, the variation in the thickness, the presence of pigment, and the color are all useful characteristics.

What are 3 functions or adaptations of mammalian hair?

In modern mammals, hair serves to insulate, to conceal, to signal, to protect, and to sense the immediate surroundings. Insulation serves to conserve heat, but also, as in the case of diurnal desert animals such as the camel, to protect against excessive heat.

What are the characteristics of hair?

Terms in this set (5)

  • texture. the size or diameter of the hair shaft.
  • porosity. The ability of hair to absorb and hold moisture and liquid.
  • tenacity. the degree of difficulty with which the cuticle can be penetrated.
  • density. -the quality of number of hairs per square inch on the scalp.
  • elasticity.