Sex differences from fingerprint ridge density in the Indian population

Nayak, Vinod C.; Rastogi, Prateek; Kanchan, Tanuj; Lobo, Stany W.; Yoganarasimha, K.; Nayak, Smitha; Rao, Nageshkumar G.; Pradeep Kumar, G.; Suresh Kumar Shetty, B.; Menezes, Ritesh G.

doi:10.1016/j.jflm.2009.09.002

« Previous Next »Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine
Volume 17, Issue 2 , Pages 84-86, February 2010

Sex differences from fingerprint ridge density in the Indian population

Vinod C. Nayak, MD (Assistant Professor)
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, India
- Corresponding author.
Prateek Rastogi, MD (Assistant Professor)
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, India
Tanuj Kanchan, MD (Assistant Professor)
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, India
Stany W. Lobo, MSc PhD (Assistant Professor)
- Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Saba University School of Medicine, Saba, Netherlands Antilles
K. Yoganarasimha, MD (Professor)
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, V.M.K.V. Medical College, Salem, India
Smitha Nayak, MBA (Lecturer)
- Manipal Institute of Management, Manipal, India
Nageshkumar G. Rao, MD (Professor)
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Meenakshi Medical College and Research Institute, Kanchipuram, India
G. Pradeep Kumar, MD (Professor)
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, India
B. Suresh Kumar Shetty, MD (Assistant Professor)
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, India
Ritesh G. Menezes, MD Diplomate NB (Associative Professor)
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, India

Received 27 September 2007; received in revised form 10 July 2009; accepted 4 September 2009.

Abstract

Determination of individuality is one of the prime concerns in forensic investigation. The study of fingerprints is widely used in providing a clue regarding identity. The present study was undertaken to study the sex differences in fingerprint ridge density in the Indian population. The study done on 100 males and 100 females revealed that significant sex differences occur in the fingerprint ridge density. The present study shows a statistically significant difference in fingerprint ridge densities of male and female fingerprints in people of Indian origin. A mean fingerprint ridge density of 12 ridges/25mm² or less is found to be more likely to be of males and a mean ridge count of more the 12 ridges/25mm² is more likely to be of female origin.