Human Homo sapiens (ethnicity unknown): scalp hair from adult human

This factsheet assists in the identification of scalp hairs from a human of unknown ethnicity.

Most diagnostic features for this species

Human (ethnicity unknown) scalp hair.

Scalp hair can be longest of any mammal species, up to 0.5m long (but often cut short).
Absent or fragmented medulla

Sample

Description: Scalp hair from adult

Sample origin: Brunner and Coman 1974 "The identification of mammalian hair". Melbourne, Australia: Inkata Press

Hair profile

Length (mm): maximum 500

Maximum diameter observed (μm): 110

Microscopic features

Human (ethnicity unknown). Scalp hair cross-section. Note absence of medulla (magnification x486). Image: © Brunner H, Coman B. 1974. The Identification of Mammalian Hair. Inkata Press, Melbourne. Image — Human (ethnicity unknown). Scalp hair cross-section. Note absence of medulla (magnification x486). Image: © Brunner H, Coman B. 1974. The Identification of Mammalian Hair. Inkata Press, Melbourne.

Citation

Lowe B, Wehi PM. 2017. New Zealand hair identification factsheets: Human (ethnicity unknown): Scalp hair from adult human
https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/tools-and-resources/identification/hair-sample-identification-and-factsheets/hair-from-animal-or-animal-skin/human-ethnicity-unknown
Accessed: (--current date)