Is fingerprint ridge density influenced by hand dimensions?

Is fingerprint ridge density influenced by hand dimensions?

Authors

Keywords:

Fingerprint ridge density, Hand dimensions, Identification, Biological anthropology

Abstract

Background and objective:  Various aspects of fingerprint resarch were extensively explored in the past. However, the correlation between fingerprint ridge density and hand dimensions has not yet been documented. Therefore, the present study has investigated the relationship so that some conclusions regarding the association can be established.

Methods: The study included 500 subjects (250 males and 250 females) between the ages of 18 to 25 years who belonged to the Rajput community of the Shimla and Solan districts of Himachal Pradesh state of North India. The sexual dimorphism among the ridge count was examined using student’s t–test. The relationship of fingerprint ridge density with hand dimensions among both the sexes and pooled data was analyzed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient.

Results: All the fingers on both hands showed statistically significant sex differences. When all digits were considered together, the left little finger in males and right middle finger in females showed a weak but significant correlation with hand length while all the digits when considered in combination reported strong correlation hand length measurements. Similarly, right thumb showed significant correlation with hand breadth. All the ten digits showed highly significant correlation with hand breadth when pooled data was examined.

Conclusion: The ridge density correlates with the hand dimensions in the case of pooled data. This relationship can then be used to devise prediction equations for hand dimensions based on ridge density, or vice-versa for pooled data. The equations will also help in estimating hand dimensions based on ridge density and vice-versa.

Author Biographies

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

Siddharatha Sharma, MSc

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

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

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

Deepika Rani,

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

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

Dr Richa Mukhra, PhD

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

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

Dr Tanuj Kanchan, MD, DFM

Professor and Head,

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

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Published

16-12-2022

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How to Cite

1.
Sharma S, Krishan K, Rani D, Mukhra R, Kanchan T. Is fingerprint ridge density influenced by hand dimensions?. Acta Biomed [Internet]. 2022 Dec. 16 [cited 2024 Jul. 18];93(6):e2022315. Available from: https://mattioli1885journals.com/index.php/actabiomedica/article/view/13548