(FOCHTO)

HAIR AND TEXTILE FIBERS

Hair is a specialized epithelial outgrowth of the skin which occur everywhere on the
human body except on the palm of the hands and

the sole of the feet. Hair is not completely round but maybe oval flattened. Its width is
not always the same along its length. It starts out pointed

and narrow and then strays more or less the same.

Two kinds of Hair (among animals including human being)

1. Real hair ( generally along and stiff)

2. Fuzz hair ( generally short, fine at times curly and wooly)

Parts of Hair

1. Roots ( portion embedded in the skin

2. Shaft ( portion above the surface of the skin. The most DISTINCTIVE part of the hair.

3. Tip ( sometimes termed point. The distal end of an uncut hair.

Parts of Shaft

1. Cuticle ( outermost covering of the hair. It is consist of one layer of non-nucleated

polygonal cells, which overlaps like the scales on a

fish.

2. Cortex ( the intermediate and the THICKEST layer of the and is composed of
elongated, spindle-shaped fibrils which cohere. They

contain pigment granules in varying proportion depending on the type of hair.

3. Medulla or Core ( the most characteristics portion of the hair. It si the central canal of
the hair that maybe empty or may contain

various sots of cells more or less pigmented and begins more and less near the root.

Take Note: Certain hair has no medulla. Therefore hair can be classified into two
categories namely a) hair without medulla b) hair with
medulla.

Examination of Human Hair

1. Color

2. Melanin (brownish-black pigment in hair, skin, etc. it is the chemical responsible for
the color of the hair. Black and brown hair differs

only to the amount of melanin.

3. Length by actual measurement

4. Character of hair whether stiff, wiry or soft

5. Width (breadth)

6. Character of hair tip if present

7. Manner by which hair had been cut

8. Condition of root or base or bulb of hair

Hair Root

1. Living Root – often found on hair in full growth

2. Dry Roots – dead roots

Take note also the following:

1. Character of cuticle (the size, the general shape and the irregularity of the scale)

2. Character of cortex (structural features are studied under the microscope)

3. Cortex is embedded with the pigment granules the impart hair with color. It is the
color, shape and distribution of these granules

provide the chemist with important points of comparison between the hairs of the
different individuals.

4. Presence of dye in hair

Dye hair can be distinguished from natural hair. Under the microscope dyed hair has a
dull appearance and the color tone is constant,

whereas natural hair is not and the individual pigment granules stand more sharply.

Determine also of whether naturally or artificially curled and the character of medulla.
The Medulla

The medulla and cortex are the most characteristic portion of the hair. Have more
distinguishing qualities, thus they yield the most reliable criteria in the diagnosis of hair.

Medulla or core or the central canal of the hair can be continuous or interrupted. It is
continuous in large number of animals, very often interrupted in human, monkey, and
horses. Medulla’s diameter can be absolutely constant. At times alternately narrow and
broader. The diameter of the medulla is very little importance but the relationship
between the diameter of the medulla and the diameter of the whole hair his of great
importance.

1. MEDULLARY INDEX or M.I (is the relationship between the diameter of the medulla
and the diameter of the whole hair. Its

determination is performed under a microscope with micrometer eyepiece.

2. HAIR WITH NARROW MEDULLA (less the 0.5) ( belongs to human

3. HAIR WITH MEDIUM MEDULLA (approximate 0.5) (belongs to hair of cow, horse,
others.

4. HAIR WITH THICK MEDULLA (greater than 0.5) ( almost all animals belong to this

Comparison between Human and Animal Hair

HUMAN

1. M.I. is less than 0.5

2. Medulla may not be present

3. Scale pattern is fine and each one overlaps the other more than 4/5

4. Pigment granules are fine

ANIMAL

1. M.I more than 0.5

2. Medulla always present

3. Scale is coarse and overlaps less than 1⁄2

4. Pigment granules are coarse

Other Aspects of Hair Examination

1. Characteristic by race

a. NEGROID RACE HAIR - contains heavy pigment distributed unevenly a thin cross
section of the hair is oval in shape hair is

usually kinky with marked variation in the diameter along the shaft

b. MONGOLOID RACE - contains dense pigment distributed more or evenly the

Negroid race hair cross section of the hair will

around to oval in shape hair is coarse and straight with very little variation in diameter
along the shaft of the hair usually contains

a heavy black medulla or core.

c. CAUCASIAN RACE - contains very fine to coarse pigment, and more evenly
distributed than is found in Negro or Mongolian.

Cross section will be oval to around in shape, usually straight or wavy and not kinky

2. Characteristic by sex

a. Male hair is generally larger in diameter, shorter in length, more wiry in texture than t
hat of a female

b. Male hair averages approximately 1 / 350 of an inch in diameter, female hair

averages approximately 1 / 450 of an inch in

diameter.

3. The religion of the body from which the human hair has been removed

a. Scalp hair ( they are more mature than any other kind of human hair

b. Beard Hair ( coarse, curved, very stiff, and often triangular in cross section

c. Hairs from eyebrow, eyelid, nose and ear-short, stubby, and have wide medulla.
Eyebrow and eyelashes are usually very short

and has a sharp and has a sharp tip.

d. Trunk hair (very in thickness along the shaft and are immature but are somewhat
similar to head hairs. They have fine, long tip

ends.
e. Limb hair (similar to trunk hairs but usually are not so long or so coarse and usually
contain less pigment.

f. Axillary Hair (is fairly long unevenly distributed pigment. They vary considerably in
diameter along the shaft and have

frequently a bleached appearance. It has an irregular shape and structure. Looks like
public hair but the ends are shaper and the

hair is not so curly.

g. Public hair-similar to axillary hair but are coarser, and do not appear bleached. More
wiry, have more constriction and twist and

usually have continuous broad medulla. Has many broken ends the clotting rubs.

4. The approximate age of individuals

a. Infant hairs are fine, short in length, have fine pigment and are rudimentary in
chapter. Children’s hair through adolescence is

generally finer and more immature than and hair but cannot be definitely differentiated
with certainly.

b. If it is noted that the pigment is missing or starting to disappear in the hair, it can be
stated that the hair is from adult. It is

common for a relatively young person to have prematurely gray or white hair(head hair)
but not body hairs.

c. The root of hair from an aged person may show a distinctive degeneration

TEXTILE FIBERS

Textile fibers-fibers that can be converted into yarns.

Yarn-made of fibers which have been twisted together, linked thread.

Classification of Textile Fibers

The two divisions of fibers are Natural fiber and Synthetic or artificial fiber

Natural fibers are:

a. Vegetable fibers ( made of CELLULOSE. Examples are seed. Stem barks or bast
fibers, leaf fibers, cotton, woody fibers, fruit or nut
fibers.

b. Animal fibers ( made of PROTEIN. Examples are wool, silk, hair.

c. Mineral fiber ( example is asbestos

Synthetic or Artificial Fibers are organic fiber such as

a. Cellulosic ( example rayon

b. Non-cellulosic ( examples nylon, casein fiber, resin fiber

and Inorganic fibers such as

a. mineral fiber ( examples glass fiber wool, glass rock, and slag wools

b. metallic fiber ( examples finewire filament, steel wool, tinsel threads.

Test Used for Fibers

a. BURNING OR IGNITION TEST (A simple preliminary macroscopic examination. A

test that determines whether fiber is mineral,

animal or vegetable. A single fiber is applied with flame at one end and the following are
noted:

 manner of burning

 odor of fumes

 appearance of burnt end

 color of ash

 action of fumes on moistened red and blue litmus paper

 effect of fumes on a piece of filter paper moistened with lead acetate

b. FLUORESCENCE TEST – frequently used to determine the general group to which a

fiber belongs. It is not reliable for positive

identification of fiber.

c. MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION – the fiber is placed on a slide teased and covered.

In general it is the most reliable and best means

of identifying fibers.
d. CHEMICAL TEST - Staining Test – the fiber is stained with picric acid, Million’s
reagent, stannic chloride or iodine solution.

Picric acid + silk ---------- dyed

Picric acid + wool -------- dyed

Picric acid ) cellulosic fiber ---------------- unchanged

Silk + million’s reagent --------------------- brown

Wool + million’s reagent ------------------- brown

Cellulosic fiber + million’s reagent -------- no reaction

Stannic chloride + cellulose ---------------- black

Dissolution Test – if the fiber is white or light colored it is treated with the following
chemicals. If dyed, the fiber is first decolorized

by boiling in either 1% hydrochloric acid, acetic acid or dilute potassium hydroxide. The
fiber is then treated with the following and

reaction observed.

10% NaOH

5% oxalic acid

Half saturated oxalic acid

Concentrated sulfuric acid

Concentrated and dilute ammonium hydroxide

Concentrated nitric acid

Characteristics of Common Textile Fibers

1. Cotton – unicellular filament, flat, ribbon-like, twisted spirally to right or left on its axis;
central canal is uniform in diameter. Cell

wall thick, covered by a thick, structureless, waxy cuticle. Fibers taper gradually to a
blunt or rounded point at one end.
2. Mercerized Cotton – straight, cylindrical with occasional twist; unevenly lustrous,
smooth except for occasional transverse fold or

wrinkles; cuticle mostly lacking.

3. Linen – multicellular filament, straight and cylindrical, not twisted and flattened,
tapering to a sharp point. Cell walls thick, the lumen

appearing as a narrow dark line in the center of the fiber to appear jointed resembling
bamboo.

4. Cultivated silk-smooth, cylinder, lustrous threads, usually single but often double, the
twin filament held together by an envelope of

gum. More or less transparent, without definite structure.

5. Wild silk-similar to cultivated silk but broader and less regular in outline. Marked by
very fine longitudinal striations with infrequent

diagonal cross markings.

6. Artificial silk-cylindrical, lustrous, appearing like a glass rod.

7. Wool-easily distinguished by presence of flattened, overlapping epidermal scales not

found on silk or any of the vegetable fibers.

COLLECTION, PRESERVATION, AND MARKING OF FIBER EVIDENCE

Before attempting specific procedures listed below, note the following general

precautions:

1. The size of the container should correspond to the size of the object.

2. Do not package wet evidence. Fibers or objects containing fiber evidence

should be air dried before placing in sealed containers. Biological stains degrade

with time. This process is accelerated when items are wet and sealed in airtight

containers.

3 Do not package items on a surface without first thoroughly cleaning that surface.

Avoiding cross contamination between all evidence and standards is imperative!

4. All seams of the packaging must be sealed to prevent the loss of trace evidence.

5. Label all evidence containers with submitter’s initials, ID/badge number, agency

name, case number, item number, source, and date.

COLLECTION PROCEDURES

1. Where fibers are visible and firmly attached to an inanimate object to be

transported to the laboratory:

Leave fibers intact.

(a) Diagram and note exact location and approximate number of fibers adhering

to each object (photograph if possible).

(b) Label object and package in a container so that fibers cannot become

dislodged in transit.

(c) Label packaging with appropriate information.

2. Where fibers are visible and not firmly attached, or if firmly attached and object

is too large to send to the lab:

(a) After diagramming and noting each location and the number of fibers

present, carefully remove with clean tweezers and package.

(b) Place fibers in a small pill box, glass vial or other tightly sealed container.

Fibers may also be placed in small folded paper bindles.

(c) Label packaging with appropriate information.

3. Where fibers are possibly transferred to clothing of victim or suspect:

(a) Be sure clothing is dry before packaging.

(b) Keep each item separate.

(c) Avoid disturbing soil, dust, blood, seminal stains, or other foreign materials

adhering to clothing.

(d) If any of the aforementioned are apparent, see appropriate Physical

Evidence Bulletin for special instructions.

(e) Place ID mark on each item in an easily located area that does not damage

the clothing.

(f) After allowing wet apparel to air dry, carefully fold and wrap each article

separately, package, and label with appropriate information (layers of clean

wrapping paper and new paper bags are suitable for this purpose).

4. For fingernail scrapings/clippings:

(a) Take scrapings/clippings from both suspect and victim.

(b) Use either a clean knife, clippers, or other instrument such as a

fingernail file or toothpick.

(c) Use a separate folded paper bindle for each hand to collect

scrapings/clippings.

(d) Place the folded and labeled bindles (i.e. “left hand”, “right hand”) in a pill

box, glass vial or other small tightly sealed container and label with

appropriate information.

5. Where fibers are in hair of suspect or victim:

Comb the individual's hair over clean white paper using a clean fine-tooth comb.

Carefully fold the paper together with the comb into a bindle to prevent loss of

any trace evidence. Place the bindle in an envelope and label with appropriate

information.