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NORTHEASTERN COLLEGE
Santiago City, Isabela

COLLEGE OF CRIMINOLOGY

CHAPTER 9 FORENSIC CHEMISTRY

1. Title: HAIR AND TEXTILE FIBERS

2. Overview/Introduction
This module focuses on the study of hair and textile fibers.
Specifically, it deals on the definition of hair, kinds of hair, parts of the human hair,
microscopic examination of hair, importance of hair as physical evidence, the history of
hair examination, collection and preservation of hair. Also, the test for textile fibers and
microscopic examination for textile fibers.

3. Learning Outcome/Objective

At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:

1. Define hair
2. Identify the parts of the hair
3. Know the importance of hair analysis
4. Discuss the history of hair examination
5. Know the proper collection and preservation of hair
6. Identify the test for textile fibers
7. Know the microscopic examination of textile fibers

4. Learning Content/Topic

1. Definition of Hair
2. Main parts of the hair
3. The importance of hair analysis
4. Collection and preservation of hair
5. Chemical test for textile fibers
6. Microscopic examination of textile fibers
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5. Teaching and Learning Activities

A. DEFINITION OF HAIR

Hair – refers to a specialized epithelial outgrowth of the skin which occur everywhere on the
human body except on the palm of the hands and at the sole of the feet. It is an appendage
of the skin. Hair is not completely round but maybe oval or flattened, Its width is not always
the same along its length. It starts out pointed and narrow and then strays or less the same.

Two kinds of Hair (among mammals and human being)

1. Real Hair – This refers generally to long and stiff hair.
2. Fuzz Hair – This refers generally to short, fine at times curly and woolly hair.

Parts of the Hair

1. Root - This refers to portion of embedded in the skin.
2. Shaft – This refers to portion above the surface of the skin. It is the most distinctive
part of the hair.
3. Tip – This refers to distal end of an uncut hair shaft. It refers sometimes to point.
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B. THE HUMAN HAIR

Parts of the Shaft
1. Cuticle – This refers to the outermost covering of the hair. It consists of one layer
of non-nucleated polygonal cells which overlaps like the scales on fish.
2. Cortex – This refers to the intermediate and the thickest layer of the shaft and is
composed of elongated spindle shaped fibrils which cohere and contains the color
pigmentation of the hair embedded in the skin.
3. Medulla or Core – This refers to the central canal of the hair that maybe empty or
may contain various sorts of cells more or less pigmented and begins more or less
near the root.
Certain hair has Medulla. Therefore, hair can be classified into two categories namely:
1. Hair without medulla
2. Hair with medulla
Medulla can be interrupted, continuous, fragmented, solid or none/absent.
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C. HISTORY OF HAIR EXAMINATION

Hair examination is one of the oldest forms of physical examination.
Its use is older than fingerprints.
It is valuable because the hair of its kind of animal is different and distinct for all others.
1847 – First used as physical evidence
1897 – Rudolph Virchow become the first person to do an in-depth study of hair.
1906 – Hugo Marx wrote a paper on the use of hair in forensic investigation to
determine identity.
1931 – Dr. Paul Kirk works on new ways to improve the use of hair in forensic
investigations.
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D. COLLECTION, PACKING AND PRESERVATION OF HAIR

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E. OTHER ASPECTS OF HAIR EXAMINATION

DETERMINATION OF CHARACTERISTICS BY RACE

In most instances it can be determined whether a human hair came from Negroid,
Mongoloid, and Caucasian race.
a. Negroid Race Hair
1. Contain heavy pigment distributed unevenly
2. A thin cross section
3. Hair is usually kinky with marked variation in the diameter along the shaft
b. Mongoloid Race Hair
1. Hair contains dense pigment distributed more evenly than Negroid race hair
2. Cross section of the hair will be round to oval in shape
3. Hair is coarse and straight with very little variation in diameter along the shaft of
the hair
4. Usually contains a heavy black medulla or core
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c. Caucasian Race Hair

1. Hair contains very fine to coarse pigment and more evenly distributed than is
found in the Negroid or Mongolian
2. Cross section will be oval to round in shape
3. Usually straight or wavy and not kinky

F. TEXTILE FIBERS
DEFINITION – In general and broad sense the word “textile” is derived from the Latin
word “textillis” and the French word “textere”, to weave, hence fiber means than can be
converted into yarn. A yarn consists of fibers or filaments that have been twisted
together.

CLASSIFICATION OF FIBERS
A. Natural Fibers
1. Animal fibers
Animal hairs
- Wool (sheep), Goat, Llama, Rabbit and other fibers
Secretion fibers
- Silk and other fibers
2. Vegetable Fibers
a. From Seed
- Cotton and other fibers
b. From Stem
- Hemp, Flax and other fibers
c. From Leaf
d. From Fruit
3. Mineral Fibers
a. Asbestos
B. Man-made Fibers
1. Form organic chemistry
- Artificial fibers
- Synthetic fibers
2. From Inorganic chemistry
- Glass, Metallic fibers, Ceramics and other fibers
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TEST FOR TEXTILE FIBERS

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MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION
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6. Flexible Teaching Learning Modality (FTLM) adapted

 Module
 activities

7. Assessment Task

CHAPTER TEST: Answer the following

1. What is the definition of Hair

2. Identify the main parts of the Hair
3. What are the importance of Hair Analysis
4. Define Textile Fibers
5. What is the classification of Textile Fibers
6. What are the test for Textile Fibers

7. References
LAS-IGAN, RAMIL, MS CRIM – Terminologies and Personalities in Criminology,
Forensic Chemistry and Toxicology Part 4
Prepared and updated by:
EDISON D. LALLANA
Instructor
Northeastern College
Santiago City, Isabela

11/14/23