Polarised light micrograph of a cross-section of an elephant hair (family Elephantidae and the order Proboscidea). In most mammals the hair shaft is composed of three main regions; the cuticle, the cortex and the medulla. The cuticle is a thin translucent layer composed of overlapping keratinised scales. The cortex forms the main body of the hair and is made up of elongated filamentous cells growing parallel to the shaft. The medulla normally consists of a central core running through the centre of the cortex and is thought to have a thermoregulatory function. In addition to its greater thickness, the hair of the elephant differs from the normal structure in that the shaft is not circular, but angular, in cross-section and rather than having a central core a large number of channels run along the length of the shaft. In African culture bracelets were made from elephant hair, due to poaching they are now illegal in many countries. Magnification: x20 at 10cm wide. | |
Lizenzart: | Lizenzpflichtig |
Credit: | Science Photo Library / Lowry, Steve |
Bildgröße: | 4560 px × 5755 px |
Modell-Rechte: | nicht erforderlich |
Eigentums-Rechte: | nicht erforderlich |
Restrictions: | - |