Palmar dermatoglyphics in Libyan population

ABSTRACT

To construct some population standards of some of the palmar dermatoglyphic features in the adult Libyans living in Tripoli. A total number of 100 adult Libyan males and 100 adult Libyan females living in Tripoli were used in this study. They were students at Faculty of Medicine, Al-Fateh University during the academic year 2009/2010. Their ages ranged from 18-20 years. For all subject palmar dermatoglyphic studies; Atd angle and a-b ridge count were done. The palmar jiexion creases; normal, Simian, Partial Simian and Sydney pattern were investigated. Mean atd angle of right hand of adult male [33.74] was less than that of the left hand [33.89]. Mean atd angle of the right hand of the adult female [34.37] was less than that of the left hand [34.61]. On the other hand, the mean atd angles of both right and left hands of the male were less than that of the female. A-b ridge count of right hand of male adult [38.31] was less than that of left hand [38.7]. The same result was seen in the female; a-b ridge count of right hand of female adult [35.77] was less than that of the left hand [36.87]. However, the a-b ridge count of both right and left hands of the male are more than that of the female. The percentage of the normal palmar flexion creases was found to be more in both hands of the adult male [81% for both,] than that of both hands of the female [68% for the right hand and 72%/or the left hand]. Conversely, the percentage of the abnormal types of palmar flexion creases was found to be less in both hands of the male [19%] than that present in both hands of the female [32% for the right hand and 28% for the left]. The data of this study discover the presence of sexual differences and bilateral asymmetry of almost all the palmar dermatoglyphic .features studied. The variations may be attributed to the genetic factor influencing their development