Size and shape in dermatoglyphic analysis of palmar interdigital areas

With very few exceptions, dermatoglyphic methodology either refers to shape (pattern) or to size (quantitative value). In this study, an attempt is made to consider simultaneously these two basic components of morphology in the analysis of the third palmar interdigital area. For this purpose, three criteria of shape and bc ridgecount (size) were studied in 150 male and 150 female Viennese pupils, and were each classified according to whether they could be interpreted as showing strong reduction, slight reduction or no reduction. Their frequencies alone and in combination were calculated. Their interrelation with the mean ridge counts and their comparison with the traditional reduction types of c-triradius or mainline C strongly suggest that the traditional notation is not sufficiently precise to evaluate criteria of reduction which are thought to indicate different embryonic growth patterns.