A Study to Assess Fingerprint Pattern Among Medical Students at a Tertiary Care Centre in Western Rajasthan

Background: A fingerprint is an impression left by the friction ridges of a human finger. The recovery of partial fingerprints from a crime scene is an important method of forensic science. The present study was conducted to assess fingerprint pattern among medical students. Material and methods: A cross-sectional study was done among 240 students consisted of 120 males and 120 females. All the subjects were healthy, and their age ranged from 17 to 22 years. Fingerprints were taken by using Ink Method. The fingertip patterns of all the digits were recorded. The prints were analyzed with the help of the magnifying glass. The data was also analyzed for any abnormal new pattern particular to the study group. The frequency of each fingerprint pattern was tabulated, and the percentage of each pattern was calculated. Results: The rolled fingerprints of all ten fingers of 240 subjects were collected. Hence a total of 2400 fingerprints were obtained, which were analysed, and their patterns and subtypes were determined. Distribution of different patterns of fingerprints showed that prevalence of loop pattern (53.75%) was more in the medical students. In the loop pattern Ulnar subtype (92.24%) was predominant, in whorl type spiral subtype (52.28%) was predominant, in the composite pattern Twinned loop (42.53%) was predominant and in the arch pattern plain subtype (77.77%) was predominant. Conclusion:The present study concluded that loop pattern fingerprints were predominant in medical students. In the loop pattern Ulnar subtype was predominant, in whorl type spiral subtype was predominant, in the composite pattern Twinned loop was predominant and in the arch pattern plain subtype was predominant