The Bilateral Structure of Wool Cortex and Its Relation to Crimp

Abstract

Xew evidence of the nature of the bilateral cortex in crimped wool is presented and discussed in relation to the physical and chemical properties of the wool fibre. The origin of the asymmetry in the cortex was studied by cutting cross sections of sheep skin and swelling plucked wool roots. It is shown that the bilateral structure is present before the cortex is keratinized and does not originate from an asymmetrical keratinization as has been suggested. Coarse wools, in which crimp is much less, are shown to possess a radial asymmetry in which the peripheral cortical cells are less accessible to basic dyes and have a higher sulphur content than the central cells. This is related to the difference between the curved follicles from which fine fibres are produced and the straighter follicles producing coarse fibres.