Sex estimation from fingerprint ridge density. A review of literature

Siddharatha Sharma; Rijen Shrestha; Kewal Krishan; Tanuj Kanchan

doi:10.23750/abm.v92i5.11471

Sex estimation from fingerprint ridge density. A review of literature

Authors

Siddharatha Sharma Department of Anthropology (UGC Centre of Advanced Study), Panjab University, Sector-14, Chandigarh, India
Rijen Shrestha Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine, Tribhuvan University Institute of Medicine, Kathmandu, Nepal; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8562-7712
Kewal Krishan Department of Anthropology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5321-0958
Tanuj Kanchan Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences Jodhpur, India http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0346-1075

DOI: https://doi.org/10.23750/abm.v92i5.11471

Keywords:

Fingerprints, Ridge density, Forensic identification, Sexual domorphism

Abstract

Identification has always been very vital in forensic casework. Fingerprint patterns are population-specific and individualistic, that makes fingerprinting an important biological trait in human biology and forensics. Fingerprint is an impression of the friction ridges of the finger-ball, where friction ridges are raised portions of the epidermis. Skin on human fingertips contains ridges and valleys which together forms distinctive patterns. These patterns are fully developed in intra-uterine life and remain unaltered until the death of the individual. Injuries such as cuts, burns and bruises can temporarily damage quality of fingerprints but when fully healed, the patterns are restored. The number of ridges present in a unit area on a fingerprint is called the Fingerprint Ridge Density (FPRD). The epidermal ridge density can be determined by examining two parameters - ridge width and distance between the ridges. The thickness of the epidermal ridges varies between individuals and between the sexes. The present review of literature focuses on the sexual dimorphism on the basis of the FPRD and its possible use in forensic examinations. Most of the studies pertaining to the estimation of sex from the FPRD have been conducted in the last two decades when Mark A. Acree in 1999, devised a method of estimation of sex on Caucasian and African-American descent. The present analysis evaluates the studies found in the PubMed database conducted after Acree, 1999. The estimation of sex from the FPRD is based upon the fact that the females have a fine detailing of ridges and consequently more ridges are covered in a unit space in the fingerprints of females as compared to males. The paper also highlights recent advancements and future perspectives in the area of FPRD. (www.actabiomedica.it)

Author Biographies

Siddharatha Sharma, Department of Anthropology (UGC Centre of Advanced Study), Panjab University, Sector-14, Chandigarh, India

Siddharatha Sharma

Department of Anthropology (UGC Centre of Advanced Study),

Panjab University, Chandigarh, India

Rijen Shrestha, Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine, Tribhuvan University Institute of Medicine, Kathmandu, Nepal;

Dr Rijen Shrestha, MD,

Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine,

Tribhuvan University Institute of Medicine, Kathmandu, Nepal

Kewal Krishan, Department of Anthropology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India

Dr. Kewal Krishan, Ph.D., FRAI Associate Professor and former Chair, Department of Anthropology, (UGC Centre of Advanced Study) Panjab University, Sector-14, Chandigarh, India E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected] +919876048205 (Mobile) Dr. Kewal Krishan is a renowned forensic anthropologist and presently serving as Associate Professor and former Chairperson at the Department of Anthropology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India. He passed his BSc (Hons.), MSc (Hons.), and Ph.D. from Panjab University, India. He is well known for his contributions to forensic and biological anthropology in Indian populations. He published more than 222 articles in international and national journals of repute including high impact and reputed journals such as Nature, Nature Medicine, and The Lancet. Dr. Krishan has contributed to the advancement of Forensic Science and its applications in Indian populations. He has devised many methods of criminal investigation and formulae to be used in the criminal investigation process. He contributed invited chapters to the most coveted Encyclopedia of Forensic Sciences (2013), Encyclopedia of Forensic and Legal Medicine (2016) published by Elsevier and Encyclopedia of Archaeological Sciences (2018) published by Wiley-Blackwell. He is the Editor and on the panel of editors of various reputed international journals such as Forensic Science International, Medicine Science and the Law, Archives of Public Health etc. He has been awarded the fellowship of the Royal Anthropological Institute (FRAI) of Great Britain and Ireland, London for his contributions to forensic anthropology in India. His research has been cited by more than 8500 studies in the scientific literature. His Wikipedia profile is available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kewal_Krishan_(forensic_anthropologist) His interests include Forensics, Human biology, Biological anthropology, Human morphology, Anthropometry, Forensic podiatry, Publication ethics, Malnutrition and anthropological aspects of Public Health

Tanuj Kanchan, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences Jodhpur, India

Dr Tanuj Kanchan, MD

Additional Professor,

Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology,

All India Institute of Medical Sciences Jodhpur, India

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Sex estimation from fingerprint ridge density. A review of literature

Sex estimation from fingerprint ridge density. A review of literature

Authors

Keywords:

Abstract

Author Biographies

Siddharatha Sharma, Department of Anthropology (UGC Centre of Advanced Study), Panjab University, Sector-14, Chandigarh, India

Rijen Shrestha, Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine, Tribhuvan University Institute of Medicine, Kathmandu, Nepal;

Kewal Krishan, Department of Anthropology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India

Tanuj Kanchan, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences Jodhpur, India

References

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