Fingerprint Ridge Count Bilateral Asymmetry with Body Composition Parameters Among Some Medical Students in Kano, Nigeria

Abstract

Fingerprint is a texture formed by ridges on the human fingertip, and consists of a pattern of interleaved ridges and valleys that allow humans to grasp  and grip objects. The study aimed at determining the relationship between fingerprint ridge count and bilateral asymmetry with body composition  parameters. The study design involved a total number of 300 students. Bioelectric Impedance machine was used for measurements of body composition  parameters. A direct sensing was used for fingerprint capturing. Ridge density was determined from the count of ridges found diagonally within a  25mm² in ulnar and radial areas. The average of fingerprint asymmetry was determined by adding up the ulna and radial and divide by 2 for all the  fingers and subtracting the left digits from the right finger. A significant difference between males and females was observed in all the body composition  parameters except in the BMI. The significantly higher median values were observed only in the muscle mass and resting metabolism in male  participants compared to the females. With respect to fingerprint ridge counts, sexual dimorphism existed in index and little digit of both right and left  digits. A significant difference was only found in the total left ridge count and total ridge count, which shows that females had higher mean and  percentile values than males, whereas all other variables shows no significant difference. Right thumb shows a significant correlation with all the body  composition parameters except with resting metabolism whereas the remaining digits correlated with some of the body composition parameters. Total  right and left ridge count and total ridge counts shows a significant correlation with BMI, resting metabolism and visceral fat. However, no correlation  was observed in the bilateral asymmetry of all the fingers except in the asymmetry of ring digit, for predicting of body composition from fingerprints  ridge counts and bilateral asymmetry. Left index were found very significant in Muscle mass and resting metabolism formula for prediction of body  composition from fingerprints ridge counts and bilateral asymmetry. In conclusion, the results of this study confirm that there is relationship between  fingerprint ridge count and body composition parameters. Whereas bilateral asymmetry doesn’t correlate with body composition parameters except in  resting metabolism.