Review of concepts, microstructural patterns and nomenclature proposal to the guard-hairs of Brazilian mammals

摘要

As an introduction this Study presents a literature review on the concepts applied in tricology emphasizing studies on hair microstructure. Tricologists described and named several microstructural patterns of cuticle and medulla, but the nomenclature is too diverse and most works lack drawings and photographs to illustrate described patterns. Additionaly, the translation of terms commonly found in the bibliography, most in English and French, would lead to meaningless denominations in Portuguese. In this sense, the present work aimed to describe the microstructural patterns of cuticle and medulla found in 64 Brazilian mammal species and to propose a nomenclature in Portuguese to these patterns. Fifteen cuticular patterns were described and named on the basis of six characters: scale imbrication, form, dimensions and orientation; scale margins ornamentation and continuity. Considering the medulla, 17 medullar patterns were described and named on the basis of six characters: medulla presence, continuity, number of cell rows, cell disposition, cell shape and the ornamentation of medullar margins. The results obtained and the descriptions and drawings of cuticular and medullar patterns available in the literature were discussed.