Dermatoglyphics: The Science of Palmar Configurations

Author

Sijo Jacob

Abstract

 Dermatoglyphic studies the dermal ridges found on the finger balls, palmar digital creases, thenar and hypothenar, interdigital area of palm. Fingerprint patterns congenitally engraved on the finger extremities are the major qualitative parameter in dermatoglyphic research. The ‘atd’ angle, finger ridge count, total finger ridge count, absolute finger ridge count, position of axial triradius are the ultimate parameters assessed and counted quantitatively in dermatoglyphic examinations. Fingerprint patterns were first proposed by Sir Francis Galton based on the opening and orientation of palmar rides, in his famous book Fingerprints. The fingerprints patterns he observed were the arch, the loop and the whorl. Researchers like Edward Henry improved the finger patterning by integrating the perception of ‘core’ and ‘delta. The ‘atd’ angle, finger ridge counts, total finger ridge count, absolute finger ridge count and palmar ridge count are other dermatoglyphic parameters currently investigated by the researchers. Many studies have scientifically and universally supported clinical significance of dermatoglyphics and widely approached dermatoglyphics as method of prognostication. Unusual dermatoglyphics reveals distorted genomic systems and abnormal intrauterine-embryonic developmental disarrays.

Keywords

Dermatoglyphics, Palmar Configurations, Physical Anthropology, Fingerprint Patterns, Palmar Areas, atd Angle

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References

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