Structure of wool and its differentiation from hair fibre

STRUCTURE OF WOOL AND ITS DIFFERENTIATATION FROM HAIR

Wool is the thick, wavy and fibrous protective covering of sheep. It mainly consists of the insoluble protein, keratin. The wool fibre grows from the follicle situated in the dermis (the middle layer of skin). It consists of three morphological components : the cuticle or skin, the cortex, and medulla in the centre. True wool fibre (fine wool) does not contain the medulla (central core of hard cells) and has a hollow centre.

Fleece obtained from sheep is called grease wool or raw wool. Though wool fibres are more or less cylindrical, the surface consists of overlapping and interlocking scales of the cuticle. The serrated wool fibres tend to interlock and cling together imparting felting qualities to the wool. Wool fibre is elastic, hygroscopic, warmth retaining, durable, non-inflammable and transmits ultra-violet light.