Experiment #7

Microscopic Examination of Human and Animal Hair

I. Objective
1. Determine the microscopic characteristics of human and animal hair.
2. Understand and appreciate the scientific information that can be obtained from
the microscopic examination of hair.

II. Apparatus/Materials

Compound microscope, glass slide cover slip, tweezers, standard human hair, standard
animal hair.

III. Procedure
1. Human Hair
1.1. Collect loose hair from an individual by directing him to rub or massage his
head over a big sheet of clean paper.
1.2. Place the collected loose hair in a paper packet.
1.3. By using tweezers, collect the following hair samples with roots:
1.3.1. Head hair
1.3.2. Pubic hair (male and female)
1.3.3. Fuzz hair
1.3.4. Axillary hair
1.3.5. Nose hair
1.4. Place each of the collected hair samples in separate paper packet.
 1.5. Mount each of the collected hair samples on a glass slide and observe its
microscopic characteristics under the low power magnification.
1.6. Record and illustrate your observations.
2. Animal Hair

2.1. By using tweezers, collect the following animal hair samples with roots:
2.1.1. Carabao hair
2.1.2. Horse hair
2.1.3. Dog hair
2.1.4. Goat hair
2.1.5. Pig hair
2.1.6. Monkey hair
2.2. Place each of the collected hair samples on separate paper packets.
2.3. Mount each of the collected hair samples on a glass slide and observe its
microscopic characteristics under the low power magnification.
2:4. Record and illustrate your observations.

IV. Observation
Data and Results
I. Human Hair

Data and Results Microscopic Characteristics

Hair Shaft
Sample Root bulb Tip
Cuticle Cortex Medulla

1.Head Hair
1.1.Loose Hair
1.2.Pulled Hair
2.Pubic Hair
2.1.Male
2.2.Female
3.Fuzz Hair
4.Axillary Hair
5.Nose Hair
 II. Animal Hair
Microscopic Characteristics
Hair Shaft
Sample Root bulb Tip
Cuticle Cortex Medulla

1.Carabao Hair
2.Horse Hair
3.Dog Hair
4.Goat Hair
5.Pig Hair
6.Monkey Hair

V. Post Laboratory Discussion

Guide Questions
1. What is the primary component of hair?

2. Where is the individual hair formed?

3. What is a hair follicle?

4. What is keratin?

5. How many hair follicles does an average human head possess?

6. What is the maximum length of a grown hair?

7. What is the average hair loss a day?

8. What are the three cycles of hair growth? Describe each.

9. Where do you search for hair evidence?

10. What are the three parts of hair?

11. What are the three parts of a hair shaft?

12. What are the kinds of forensic examination that are conducted in hair samples?
13. What is the difference between a microscopic test of hair and a DNA examination of
hair?

14. How many hair strands are required for microscopic test and DNA test?
14.1. Head hair

14.2. Pubic hair

15. Why is there a need to comb the pubic region of the rape victim before collecting
hair samples for examination?

16. How do you process hair evidence which is:

16.1. Attached in dry blood or caught in metal or a crack of glass

16.2. Found on small and large objects

17. How many hair strands are shed off from the head within 24 hours?

18. How many hair strands are shed off from the body within 24 hours?

19. What makes hair an important trace evidence in the crime scene?
VI. Conclusion

VII. Illustration

VIII. Documentation