Deck 3: Hair Analysis

Question 1

In 1910 a comprehensive study of hair titled The Hair of Man and Animals was published by the French forensic scientists, Victor Balthazard and Marcelle Lambert.This text includes numerous microscopic studies of hair from:

A)most animals.
B)most domesticated animals.
C)human beings.
D)None of these choices.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

The hair shaft is made up of three layers: an outer medulla, a cortex, and an inner cuticle.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

A hair consists of two parts: a follicle and a shaft.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

When humans are born, they have about:

A)5 million hair follicles, only two percent of which are on the head.
B)10 million hair follicles, only two percent of which are on the head.
C)5 million hair follicles, only five percent of which are on the head.
D)10 million hair follicles, only five percent of which are on the head.

Question 5

All mammals have hair.Its main purpose is to:

A)regulate body temperature by insulating the body.
B)protect the body from an attack.
C)protect the body from rugged terrain.
D)None of these choices.

Question 6

Hair viewed for forensic investigations is studied both macroscopically and microscopically.Microscopic characteristics include the:

A)pattern of the medulla.
B)pigmentation of the cortex.
C)types of scales on the cuticle.
D)All of these choices.

Question 7

Bits of pigment found in the cortex of a hair is called melanin granules.

Question 8

A type of protein made up of a chain of amino acids that makes hair both strong and flexible is:

A)keratin.
B)protein.
C)cuticle.
D)None of these choices.

Question 9

The region of a hair located outside of the medulla containing granules of pigment is called:

A)the cuticle.
B)the cortex.
C)the hair follicle.
D)None of these chances.

Question 10

Hair is considered:

A)secondary evidence.
B)tertiary evidence.
C)class evidence.
D)individual evidence.

Question 11

Many dyes and other hair treatments will fluoresce under a certain color (wavelength) of light.In a fluorescence microscope, a beam of light of a certain wavelength is used.If the sample contains particular chemicals, it will absorb some of the light and then reemit light of a different wavelength.This is called:

A)fluorescence.
B)effervescence.
C)incandescence.
D)None of these choices.

Question 12

Since hair grows out of the skin, chemicals that the skin absorbs can become incorporated into hair.Ingested or absorbed toxins can be detected by chemical analyses of hair.These ingested or absorbed toxins include:

A)arsenic.
B)lead.
C)drugs.
D)All of these choices.

Question 13

Hair can adhere to clothes, carpets and many other surfaces and be transferred to other locations.This is called:

A)secondary transfer.
B)primary transfer.
C)tertiary transfer.
D)redundant transfer.

Question 14

In humans, the cortex is the largest part of the hair shaft.

Question 15

The rate of hair growth is important to know because it can help determine the last time hair was chemically treated.Human hair grows at which rate:

A)1.3 cm per day.
B)1.3 cm per week.
C)1.3 cm per month.
D)1.3 cm per year.

Question 16

The central core of a hair fiber is called the ___________________________ .

Question 17

The cuticle is a transparent inner layer of the hair shaft.

Question 18

Animal hair and human hair have several differences including:

A)the pattern of pigmentation.
B)the medullary index.
C)the cuticle type.
D)All of these choices.

Question 19

A classic 1883 text on forensic science, The Principles and Practice of Medical Jurisprudence by Alfred Swaine Taylor and Thomas Stevenson contains a chapter on using:

A)soil in forensic investigations.
B)weapons in forensic investigations.
C)hair in forensic investigations.
D)clothing in forensic investigations.

Question 20

Investigators recognized the importance of analysis of hair as:

A)trace evidence in criminal investigations in the late 1800s.
B)secondary evidence in criminal investigations in the late 1880s.
C)primary evidence in criminal investigations in the late 1880s.
D)direct evidence in criminal investigations in the late 1880s.

Question 21

Forensic scientists distinguish __________________ types of hair on the human body.

Question 22

The cuticle of human hair is described as ____________________________________ .

Question 23

Whenever two objects are in contact, some transfer of material will occur.This is known as____________________________________________________.

Question 24

Hair proceeds through __________________ stages as it develops.