Wool

According to some theories, wool is homologous to thorns of hedgehogs and porcupines.

The wool consists of the outer (integumentary) hair and the undercoat.

Outer , or integumentary , hair has a large length, a well-developed straight or slightly curved shaft with a scaly structure. To the middle, slightly thickened. The top of the hair is a cone. The remaining hair is divided into hair I, ll, III and sometimes IV order, depending on the thickness. The thickest and longest are called guides. They are located more rarely, and their ends protrude above the total mass of hair. The structure of the outer hair determines the waviness and structure of the coat. The straighter and stronger they are, the less wavy the coat. Often, the outer hair has its own muscle-lifter, sweat and sebaceous gland. The integumentary hair performs primarily a protective function, retaining heat and protecting the skin from injury. In many species of animals, the coat has a camouflage color that is very important for survival, allowing the animals to be subtle against the background of the environment (for example , the hare and the polar bear ).

Downy hair ( undercoat ) is shorter and thinner, usually wavy curved hair without a core or with a poorly developed core. They serve to more effectively retain heat in the coat. Many species of animals appear in large numbers only in the cold season ^[1] .

There are also intermediate hairs that occupy a position between down and core.

The hair of some animal species, collected separately from the skin, is of great economic value. Light industry products and knitwear are made from it .

Wool, sheep , goat , camel , rabbit , raccoon , beaver , Angora rabbit , Angora goat are widely used on an industrial scale. The collection of wool is carried out without slaughter, which makes it possible to obtain valuable material throughout the life of the animal. Too many organizations that oppose the killing of animals for human needs insist that wool be used only in this direction.

Animal hair, taken together with the skin is called the skin . Outerwear, shoes, hats are made from animal skins. Due to the fact that the structure of the hair after skin dressing remains unchanged, animal skin products have very good resistance to cold.

The wool of some groups of animals, such as the family of marten and the order of the lagomorphs, some species of rodents (beavers), dogs (foxes), cats (lynxes), is called fur . Of great importance is the valuable fur of fur animals such as sable , ermine , etc. Products made of valuable fur often serve not for protection from the cold, but for decorative purposes. Due to the high cost of such products, their use is an indicator of the high material status of the owner (similar to products from precious metals and stones).

The softest wool of marten , foxes , hares and beavers is called fur .

• Molting
• Hair
• Wool (material)
• Dog coat
• Skin
  • Feather cover
• Keratins are proteins, the main component of wool.
• Grease
• Poreok

• Wool: structure, density, length, luster. (inaccessible link)
• Wool
• Wool, in agriculture // Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary : in 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - SPb. , 1890-1907.
• Wool, in chemistry // Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary : in 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - SPb. , 1890-1907.
• Wool, in technology // Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary : in 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - SPb. , 1890-1907.
• Wool, statistics // Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary : in 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - SPb. , 1890-1907.