TEM Study of Cross Sectioned Baby Hair Shaft

Abstract

This study obtained the following results by observing the internal microstructure of cross-section of newborn baby hair using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The cuticle cells in the layer of the newborn baby’s hair cuticles were from 0.32㎛ to 0.55㎛ in diameter. The thickness of the innermost cuticle cells in contact with cortex in the cuticle layer was relatively thicker than that of the outer cuticle cells. The intercellular membrane in the cuticle layer was 0.03㎛ thick and continued lengthways in a constant shape along the cell membrane’s boundary.

The cortex of the newborn baby hair was filled with many small cortical cells. In the cortical cells’ cytoplasm, macrofibrils surrounded by limited membranes were clearly observed, and there were melanin granules among them. The cortical cells also contained, irregularly shaped cell remnants with high electron density. In some cortical cells, small holes had formed among the macrofibrils and near the cortical membranes. The membrane complexes among the cortical cells were 0.02㎛ thick, and the cortical cells were tightly joined to the boundary of these membrane complexes. The melanin granules had a shape similar to long-grain rice.