Relationship Between The Medulla And The Diameter Of Ferret Hairs

The content of this article is a possible explanation of the hair anisotropy, causing the dependence of modulus of elasticity on a hair diameter, which was described in earlier works. The diameter of the medulla part was histologically observed using 27 hairs of 9 different ferrets (Putorius putorius furo). The tearing curve was determined for the hairs measured in this way and used to determine material parameters. A linear dependence of medulla thickness on hair diameter was found out, which means a quadratic decrease in the effective cross section of the hair diameter because the modulus of elasticity of the medulla part is lower by two orders than the modulus of elasticity of the cortex. This relationship explains to a considerable extent also the conclusions for the guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) hair and the human hairs expressed earlier. At the same time, it is the medulla part what is responsible for the thermal insulation properties of the hair and its description can thus be used when constructing models of materials made of these fibres for their possible industrial applications.