Fingerprints

Every person’s palms, fingers, soles, and toes have a series of ridges and grooves that appear as straight lines or as a pattern of loops and whorls on the tips of the digits. These are nothing but their fingerprints. Fingerprints are a product of epidermal ridges and sweat coming out on them from sweat glands.

Epidermal ridges are downward projections of the epidermis into the dermis between the dermal papillae of the papillary region. They create a strong bond between the epidermis and dermis and increase the surface area of the epidermis, thus increasing the grip of the hand or foot by increasing friction.

Fingerprints, or epidermal ridge pattern, are genetically determined and unique for each individual. It does not change during life and can serve as a means of identification.