Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 8, 2026

Flat Mount Imaging of Mouse Skin and Its Application to the Analysis of Hair Follicle Patterning and Sensory Axon Morphology
Published on: June 25, 2014
Preliminary study of guard hair morphology in four dog breeds
Paweł Tumiłowicz1,2, Agata Goliszewska1, Jacek Arct1
1The Academy of Cosmetics and Health Care, Podwale Street 13, 00-252, Warsaw, Poland.
Background:
Morphological differences between mammalian hair types are useful for species distinction. Differences in animal hair structure are observed between species, whereas there may be breed differences within a species.
Hypothesis:
Guard hair structure may vary between different dog breeds.
Animals:
Hair samples were collected from 73 dogs of four breed types (wire-haired Dachshund, Labrador retriever, German shepherd dog and Yorkshire terrier).
Methods:
Hair was measured and analysed by scanning electron microscopy. The following were evaluated: hair thickness; medulla to hair cross-sectional area ratio; scale density, pattern and margins; and medulla shape, composition and structure.
Results:
There were significant differences in all measured parameters between breeds.
Conclusions And Clinical Importance:
These study findings may be useful for the study of classifying dog breeds and for forensic identification of a dog breed through hair sampling.
Related Concept Videos
Plant Breeding and Biotechnology
Hair Cells
Accessory Structures of the Skin: Hair and Hair Follicles
Hair is a keratinous filament growing out of the epidermis. It is primarily made of dead, keratinized cells. Hair strands originate at the epidermal penetration called the hair follicle. The hair shaft is the part...
Microbial Morphologies
Accessory Structures of the Skin: Hair Growth and Types
Case Studies

