Outcome of sex determination from ulnar and radial ridge densities of Brazilians' fingerprints: Applying an existing method to a new population

Daniel da Silva Carvalho; Marcos Martinho Viana de Alecrim; Rafael Timóteo de Sousa Júnior; Luiz Antônio Ribeiro Júnior

doi:10.1016/j.scijus.2022.01.005

Outcome of sex determination from ulnar and radial ridge densities of Brazilians' fingerprints: Applying an existing method to a new population

Sci Justice. 2022 Mar;62(2):181-192. doi: 10.1016/j.scijus.2022.01.005. Epub 2022 Jan 26.

Authors

Daniel da Silva Carvalho¹, Marcos Martinho Viana de Alecrim², Rafael Timóteo de Sousa Júnior³, Luiz Antônio Ribeiro Júnior⁴

Affiliations

¹ Fingerprint Identification and Human Facial Representation Service, Criminal Identification Division, National Institute of Identification, Federal Police, Brasília 70610-200, Brazil. Electronic address: daniel.dsc@pf.gov.br.
² Criminal Identification and Information Service, Criminal Identification Division, National Institute of Identification, Federal Police, Brasília 70610-200, Brazil.
³ Electrical Engineering Department, Institute of Technology, University of Brasília, Brasília 70919-970, Brazil.
⁴ Institute of Physics, University of Brasília, Brasília 70910-900, Brazil.

PMID: 35277232
DOI: 10.1016/j.scijus.2022.01.005

Abstract

Fingerprints do not repeat, varying from region to region on the same fingerprint and from person to person. Using this morphological exclusivity in the individualization of people is considered one of the most reliable methods of identification worldwide. Many populations have been studied with respect to sex determination from fingerprints. In this study, the ridge density from two different areas - ulnar and radial - of the ten fingerprints from 100 Brazilian men and 100 Brazilian women was ascertained and statistically analyzed. The aim was to check whether these characteristics depended on sex to distinguish them categorically. Women had significantly higher ridge density in both areas for the fingers analyzed globally. Sometimes, men and women showed statistically significant differences in hands and fingers. From ulnar and radial ridge densities, this research developed thresholds for sexual discrimination cases of human identification in Brazil.

Keywords: Brazilian population; Fingerprint ridge density; Human identification; Sex difference; Threshold; Ulnar and Radial areas.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Brazil
Dermatoglyphics*
Female
Fingers
Forensic Anthropology
Humans
Male
Sex Characteristics*