Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Finger and Palmer Dermatoglyphics Traits in Potentially Malignant and Malignant Lesions of the Oral Cavity for Genetic Predilection: A Case-Control Study

The skin is the protective layer covering the entire human body which acts as a barrier against various pathogens and also acts as a thermoregulatory organ. Skin is covered with hair follicles and sebaceous glands except in the palmar aspect of hands and the plantar aspect of soles. Both regions of the human body are devoid of hair and sebaceous glands but these parts have increased nerve supply due to the presence of more sensory receptors.

A unique ridge pattern is present on the palmar aspect of hands and the plantar aspect of soles called Epidermal Ridges (ER). These ridges are unique/different for every individual. Primarily these ridges help in gripping the surface. After conception, this pattern starts to develop from the 7th to 21st week of intra-gestation life. Creating a certain manner of sweat gland pore arrangement around the Papilla (Conical eminence) leads to the formation of epidermal ridges and is completed by 52 days of the gestation period.

Various factors influenced the development of these pattern formations which include genetic and environmental factors. Abnormal configuration of dermal patterns is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors causing disturbance during the intrauterine gestation period of the fetus. One classic example of abnormal dermal patterns is associated with Down syndrome where there will be an alteration in the Ridge pattern due to retardation affecting the growth of different parts of bodies and ER.

The study of this variation of ER and fingertips of palm and sole is known as "Dermatoglyphics".

In Greek, Derma means 'skin' and Glyphic means 'curved'. The initiation of Dermatoglyphic was done by Sir Frank Galton and he classified it into three patterns: Loops, arches, and whorls. Harold Clements conducted the first study on genetic abnormality with Dermatoglyphics patterns in Down syndromes. The Father of dermatoglyphics is Cummins. J. CA Mayer in 1788 concludes in his study on fingerprint analysis that dermatoglyphics pattern cannot be duplicated in two individuals. In 1858, Sir William Herschel (British Chief Administrator of Officer in West Bengal) was the first to use dermatoglyphics for personal identification which was used for criminology. Patterns of Dermatoglyphics can influence the genetic makeup of an individual which can act as a guide for genetic diseases such as Down syndrome, Klinefelter's syndrome, cancer, Alzheimer's, ovarian cancer, and schizophrenia.