dermatoglyphic

Dermatoglyphics is the scientific study of the epidermal ridge patterns on the skin of the fingers, palms, toes, and soles. The term encompasses both the qualitative pattern types—loops, whorls, and arches—and the quantitative measurements used to analyze ridge configurations.

Ridge patterns form in fetal development, typically by the end of the first trimester, and remain largely unchanged afterward. They are influenced by genetic factors and prenatal conditions and show both individual specificity and population-level regularities.

Pattern types (loops, whorls, arches) and quantitative features such as ridge counts from triradii and the atd angle on the palm are commonly collected. These data support research in anthropology, genetics, and medicine rather than routine personal identification.

The field was popularized in the mid-20th century by Harold Cummins and Paul Midlo, who introduced the term dermatoglyphics and compiled foundational insights into the development and variation of ridge patterns.

Dermatoglyphic data have been examined for associations with certain congenital conditions, including Down syndrome and other developmental disorders, but such associations are not diagnostic and are not used as stand-alone tests. In forensic science, conventional fingerprint identification relies on fine ridge details rather than broad dermatoglyphic categories, and dermatoglyphic analysis is not a definitive means of individual identification.