Cortical fusi
Definition
Air-filled spaces within the cortex of the hair shaft, most common near the root end. Their size, shape, and distribution are minor comparison features in forensic microscopy.
Related terms
- Cortex
- The middle, and largest, layer of the hair shaft. It contains cortical cells, pigment granules (melanin), and cortical fusi (air spaces). The...
- Cuticle
- The waxy, polymer layer covering the outer surface of leaf epidermal cells. It protects against water loss and herbivory but, forensically, it...
- Medulla
- The central canal of the hair shaft, which may be continuous, interrupted, fragmented, or absent. Medullary pattern and the medullary index (medulla...
- Medullary index
- The ratio of the medulla diameter to the total hair shaft diameter. In companion animal hair identification, a medullary index above 0.5...
- Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)
- DNA located in mitochondria rather than the cell nucleus. Present in hundreds to thousands of copies per cell, making it recoverable from...
Explained in
- Hair Examination and MicroscopyAir-filled spaces within the cortex of the hair shaft, most common near the root end. Their size, shape, and distribution are minor comparison features in fore...