Dermatoglyphics -A Review

Karthick¹, K. M. K. Masthan², N. Aravindha Babu³, R. Jayasri Krupaa⁴, N. Anitha⁵

¹Post Graduate Student, Department Of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, SreeBalaji Dental College and Hospital, Bharath University, Chennai. ²Professor and Head Of The Department, Department Of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, SreeBalaji Dental College and Hospital, Bharath University, Chennai. ³Professor, Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Sree Balaji Dental College and Hospital, Bharath University , Chennai. ⁴Senior Lecturer, Department Of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Sree Balaji Dental College and Hospital, Bharath University , Chennai. ⁵Senior Lecturer, Department Of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Sree Balaji Dental College and Hospital, Bharath University , Chennai  

Abstract: Dermatoglyphics, a branch of physical anthropology, medicine and genetics refers to study of the intricate dermal ridge configurations on the skin covering the palmar and plantar surfaces of hand and feet. Dermatoglyphic patterns remain unchanged from birth to death and genetically determined, hence considered as an ideal marker for individual identification and the study of populations. Also used for detection of defects due to intra-uterine irregularities in the early weeks of pregnancy. Dermatoglyphics is considered as a window of congenital and intrauterine abnormalities. Several researches claim dermatoglyphics as an important diagnostic tool for some diseases especially the diseases with obscure etiology and mysterious pathogenesis. This paper aims to present the dermatoglyphic pattern configuration and methods for recording dermatoglyphics.

Keywords: Dermatoglyphics; Fingerprints; Palmar prints; Arch; Whorl; Loop

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