Study of finger and palmar dermatoglyphics in primary infertile males

Finger and palmar dermatoglyphic variations have been studied in 160 diagnosed primary infertile males (111 clinically abnormal primary infertile males and 49 clinically normal primary infertile males). It has been observed that loops occur most frequently in primary infertile males. Arches are found to be absent on digit IV and V. Among the clinically normal infertile males the mainline formula 7.5.5--succeeds 11.9.7--instead of 9.7.5--in the order of preponderance. Bilateral and inter-group differences among clinically abnormal and normal infertile males have been found to be statistically non-significant for finger and palmar comparison. The present findings are compared with the result on finger and palmar dermatoglyphics of controls (130 Punjabi males of Delhi). Clinically normal infertile males show statistically significant differences in the occurrence of various pattern types of finger balls when compared with controls. Similarly, clinically abnormal as well as normal primary infertile males reveal statistically significant results in the occurrence of patterns in the hypothenar and Thenar/I interdigital area of palms when compared with controls.