1. Structure:
- Human hair: Consists of three layers - cuticle, cortex, and medulla.
- Animal hair: May have two or three layers, depending on the species.
2. Cuticle:
- Human hair: Has a scale-like structure that helps protect the inner parts of the hair.
- Animal hair: The cuticle may have different patterns, such as smooth, serrated, or spiky, depending on the animal.
3. Cortex:
- Human hair: Contains pigment cells that determine hair color and gives hair its strength and elasticity.
- Animal hair: The cortex may have different pigment distributions and may be responsible for color patterns.
4. Medulla:
- Human hair: Not always present, and when present, it's usually small and located in the center of the hair shaft.
- Animal hair: May be large and well-developed in certain animal species, providing insulation.
5. Growth pattern:
- Human hair: Grows continuously and falls out naturally after reaching a certain length.
- Animal hair: Growth patterns vary among species. Some animals shed and regrow their fur seasonally, while others have continuous hair growth.
6. Shape:
- Human hair: Varies in shape, ranging from straight to curly or wavy.
- Animal hair: Can have various shapes, including straight, curly, woolly, or bristly, depending on the animal species.
7. Texture:
- Human hair: Varies in texture, from fine to coarse.
- Animal hair: Can have different textures, such as silky, rough, or wiry, depending on the animal species.
8. Color:
- Human hair: Comes in a wide range of natural colors, from black to various shades of brown, red, and blonde.
- Animal hair: Animal hairs exhibit diverse colors, including black, white, brown, gray, and mixtures of these colors.
9. Chemical composition:
- Human hair: Primarily composed of keratin, a fibrous protein.
- Animal hair: Also composed primarily of keratin, but the specific composition may differ slightly in different species.
10. Function:
- Human hair: Serves various functions, such as protection from heat and cold, insulation, and sensory perception.
- Animal hair: Provides insulation, protection, camouflage, and sensory abilities in animals.