POLA SULUR (DERMATOGLIFI)

Etty Widayanti, SSi. MBiotech.

History of fingerprinting

Sir Francis Galton published in 1892 a detailed statistical model of fingerprint analysis and identification and encouraged its use in forensic science in his book Finger Prints. Galton calculated that the chance of a "false positive" (two different individuals having the same fingerprints) was not higher than about 1 in 64 billion. And Galton's approach is still visible in the F.B.I. approach of fingerprint classification groups that is used around the world today

The entire human body is clothed with the Skin. The skin on the ventral sides of the hands and the plantar sides of the feet is exclusively designed and is corrugated with the ridges and configurations which are functionally useful as they help in the grasping without which the objects would easily slip away from the hands. Cummins in 1926 for the first time coined the term dermatoglyphics to this field of science. It has been accepted and adopted internationally. Etymologically this term is harmonious blend of two words Derma, Skin; Glyphe, Carve. It gives the impression that something has been carved out of the skin.

EMBRYOLOGY AND GENETICS

The ridge configurations on the volar surface of hands are formed by elevated parallel rows of sweat-gland orifices, each about half a millimeter wide. They develop by the third month of fetal life and are under strong but not exclusive genetic control. Environmental fetal influences are evident if we consider the differences which exist between the left and right hands of a single person and the few dissimilarities in corresponding hands of identical twins. Environmental modifications also can be induced by teratogenic substances. Dermatoglyphics are formed during the 13th/14th week of the developing embryo and once formed remain permanent and never change throughout the life except in the dimension in commensurate to the growth of an individual.

Hereditary influence has been demonstrated by analysis of families using correlation coefficients. Dermatoglyphic features are determined by many genes with an additive action, some of which possibly have dominant inheritance. It seems, for example, that TRC, hypothenar radial loop, the 11nd interdigital loop, and axial triradius have higher heritability indices than other dermatoglyphic characteristics. Because of their complex polygenic inheritance and because they are not influenced after birth by external factors-geographical, economical, or other-dermatoglyphics are probably the most useful characters for studying the basic relation among different populations. The large number of genes involved account for the frequency of dermatoglyphic abnormalities found in many different syndromes of chromosomal defects.

Fingerprint Patterns

There are three main fingerprint patterns: - arches - loops - whorls

Arches

Arches are found in about 5% of fingerprint patterns encountered. The ridges run from one side to the other of the pattern, making no backward turn. There is no delta in an arch pattern but where there a delta, no re-curving ridge must intervene between the core and delta points. There are four types of arch pattern: - plain arches - radial arches - ulnar arches - tented arches

Arches

Plain arches have an even flow of ridges from one side to the other of the pattern, no significant up thrusts and the ridges enter on one side of the impression, and flow out the other with a rise or wave in the center.
Plain Arch

The ridges of radial arches slope towards the thumb, have one delta and no re-curving ridges.

Arches

On ulnar arches, the ridges slope towards the little finger, have one delta and no re-curving ridges. Tented arches have an angle, an up thrust, or two of the three basic characteristics of the loop. They dont have the same "easy" flow that plain arches do and particularly have significant up thrusts in the ridges near the middle that arrange themselves on both sides of a spine or axis towards which the adjoining ridges converge and appear to form tents.
Tented Arch

Loops

Loops occur in about 60-70 % of fingerprint patterns encountered. One or more of the ridges enters on either side of the impression, re-curves, touches or crosses the line running from the delta to the core and terminates on or in the direction of the side where the ridge or ridges entered. Each loop pattern has is one delta and one core and has a ridge count.

Loops

Radial loops are named after the radius, a bone in the forearm that joins the hand on the same side as the thumb. The flow of the pattern in radial loops runs in the direction of the radius (toward the thumb). Radial loops are not very common and most of the time radial loops will be found on the index fingers. Ulnar loops are named after the ulna, a bone in the forearm. The ulna is on the same side as the little finger and the flow of the pattern in a ulnar loop runs in the direction of the ulna (toward the little finger).

Loops

Radial Loop

Ulnar Loop

Whorls

Whorls are seen in about 25-35 % of fingerprint patterns encountered. In a whorl, some of the ridges make a turn through at least one circuit. Any fingerprint pattern which contains 2 or more deltas will be a whorl pattern. There are four types of whorl patterns. - Plain whorls - Central pocket loop whorls - Double loop whorls - Accidental whorls

Whorls

Plain whorls consist of one or more ridges which make or tend to make a complete circuit with two deltas, between which an imaginary line is drawn and at least one re-curving ridge within the inner pattern area is cut or touched. Central pocket loop whorls consist of at least one re-curving ridge or an obstruction at right angles to the line of flow, with two deltas, between which when an imaginary line is drawn, no re-curving ridge within the pattern area is cut or touched. Central pocket loop whorl ridges make one complete circuit which may be spiral, oval, circular or any variant of a circle.

Whorls

Double loop whorls consist of two separate and distinct loop formations with two separate and distinct shoulders for each core, two deltas and one or more ridges which make, a complete circuit. Between the two at least one re-curving ridge within the inner pattern area is cut or touched when an imaginary line is drawn. Accidental whorls consist of two different types of patterns with the exception of the plain arch, have two or more deltas or a pattern which possess some of the requirements for two or more different types or a pattern which conforms to none of the definitions.

Whorls

Plain Whorl

Double Loop Whorl

Central Pocket Whorl

Accidental Whorl

RIDGE COUNT

normal features : the ATD angle is around 45%

Flexian crease

Simian crease

A simian crease is a single line that runs across the palm of the hand. People normally have three creases in their palms. The term "simian crease" is not used much anymore since it tends to have a negative meaning (it refers to monkey or ape). The crease is usually just referred to as a single palmar crease. Strong lines (called palmar flexion creases) appear on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. The palm normally has three of these creases. But sometimes, the horizontal creases join together to form a single one. Palmar creases develop while the baby is growing in the womb, usually by the 12th week of gestation.

A simian crease is a single palmar crease as compared to two creases in a normal palm

Simian crease

A single palmar crease is often a normal finding. However, it may also be associated with: - Down syndrome - Fetal alcohol syndrome - Trisomy 13 - Rubella syndrome - Turner syndrome - Klinefelter syndrome - Pseudohypoparathyroidism - Gonadal dysgenesis - Cri du chat syndrome

BIRTH DEFECTS & DERMATOGLYPHICS

Some peculiarities of dermatoglyphics and flexion creases are found in a variety of clinical syndromes caused by genetic abnormalities or teratogenic drugs.

Chromosomal abnormalities

Examination of dermal patterns is of particular value in cases of chromosomal aberration. In Down's syndrome (21 trisomy), deviations from normal consist of an increased frequency of ulnar loops on fingers and reduced TRC. Radial loops are shifted from their usual site of occurrence (i.e., the index) to the third, fourth, or fifth fingers. In the palm the axial triradius is placed distally, the angle atd being wider than 560. Other significant features are the high frequency of the simian crease and a single crease on the fifth finger. Relatives of patients or carriers of balanced translocation 21/D have a wider angle atd than normal.

Chromosomal abnormalities

In trisomy 18 or Edward's syndrome, apart from the mental retardation which appears in the few babies still surviving a year after birth-which is usual in all autosomal chromosome aberrations-the most common abnormalities are prominent occiput, small receding chin, low uncurled ears, broad, short thorax, short fingers with flexion deformity, and genitourinary and cardiac defects. The characteristic dermal configurations include high frequency of arches on fingers, hypoplasia of ridge development, absence of distal flexion crease on the third through the fifth finger, and presence of a simian crease.

Chromosomal abnormalities

In the syndrome of partial deletion of the long arm of chromosome 18-(18q-), facial dysmorphia is, in some respects, the reverse of that in trisomy 18: protruding mandible, midface dysplasia, overcurled helix and prominent anthelix of the ear, carp-shaped mouth, and tapering fingers are the most important symptoms; on the fingers there is an excess of whorls, which is the reciprocal of an excess of arches.

Chromosomal abnormalities

When there is deletion of the short arm of chromosome 18(18p-), there is neither characteristic facial dysmorphia nor a special dermatoglyphic pattern; however, hypertelorism, palpebral ptosis, and low-set, large, poorly formed ears usually are found; the axial triradius is sometimes placed distally and TRC is often high.

Trisomy 13

Trisomy of chromosome 13 is associated with a clinical syndrome which partially overlaps that of trisomy 18. Some features are found more commonly in trisomy 13; these include microphtalmia or anophtalmia, cleft lip and palate, polydactyly, capillary hemangiomata, and localized defects of the scalp. Axial triradius is more distally displaced than in all other chromosomal aberration syndromes, radial loop frequency is increased on fingers, and a thenar/Ist interdigital pattern and simian creases are frequent.

Cri-du-chat disease

The syndrome of deletion of the short arm of chromosome 5(5p-), called cri-du-chat disease, is well delineated. The most striking feature is the cry of the newborn, similar to the mewing of a kitten; this usually persists for a few months. Other common features are hypertelorism, antimongoloid slant of palpebral fissures, micrognathia, short neck, and premature graying of the hair. Simian crease, high frequency of thenar patterns, intermediate axial triradius, and deficiency of ulnar loops on fingers are the usual dermatoglyphic features.

Chromosomal abnormalities

Abnormalities involving sex chromosomes produce the most striking effects on finger patterns, expecially on TRC. As a rule, the excess of sex chromosomes reduces the TRC and the lack of sex chromosomes increases the TRC. The X chromosome has approximately twice the effect of the Y chromosome. Thus, patients with Turner's syndrome (XO, mosaicism, structural abnormalities of X in women) have a mean TRC greater than that of normal women (average: 30 ridges more). Patients with excess of X chromosomes, in women (triple X, tetra X) or in men (Klinefelter's syndrome with various chromosomal abnormalities: XXY, XXXY...), would have, respectively, a mean reduced TRC of 30 or 60 ridges in comparison with the TRC of normal women or men. Excess of Y chromosomes in man reduces the TRC by approximately 12 ridges in comparison with normal man. Observed values are in good accordance with these expected values.

Some defects caused by environmental teratogens are associated with unusual dermatoglyphics. In some, such as the thalidomide syndrome, the development of limbs is often disturbed; thus, it is not surprising that abnormal dermatoglyphics occur. In prenatal rubella syndrome, limb development is normal. The most common defects are microcephaly, cataract, deafness, blindness, and abnormalities of the cardiovascular or central nervous systems. Dermatoglyphic features include distal axial triradius, high palmar pattern frequency, increased whorl frequency on fingers of affected males, and frequent simian crease. As transitory chromosomal aberrations occur during rubella, dermatoglyphic peculiarities may be the consequence of these chromosomal abnormalities.

The systematic study of dermatoglyphics in disorders which are suspected or proved to be caused by genetic abnormalities or by environmental agents which exert their effects early in gestation will lead to the discovery of a wide array of diseases in which dermatoglyphics deviate from normal. The way by which altered genes or an excess or lack of genes induces dermatoglyphic modifications is not yet understood. In order to be able to find a solution for the problem of the development of dermal ridges, we must accumulate data extensively on chromosome aberrations and their corresponding dermatoglyphic features and on the metabolism of gene action. Even now, however, we can consider dermatoglyphics a diagnostic tool which often can be helpful in strengthening a diagnostic impression.