Fingerprints are the patterns of fine ridges on the skin of the fingertips, palms, toes and soles. They are formed by the dermal papillae pushing the epidermis into parallel ridges, and their patterns of loops, whorls and arches are set before birth. Each person's pattern is unique and stays the same for life.
| Location | Palmar surfaces of the fingers and hands and plantar surfaces of the toes and feet |
|---|---|
| Parts |
|
| Nerve Supply | Proper palmar digital nerves (median and ulnar nerves) |
| Blood Supply | Proper palmar digital arteries |
| Venous drainage | |
| Lymphatic drainage |
|
Increase friction for grip and enhance fine touch and texture perception.
The ridges improve grip and help detect fine textures through vibration as the finger slides. Sweat pores open along their crests, which is why fingerprints are left on surfaces. Ridge patterns can be lost through heavy manual work, some skin diseases and certain chemotherapy drugs, and unusual palm patterns (dermatoglyphics) are associated with some genetic conditions such as Down syndrome.
A rare inherited absence of fingerprints, sometimes with reduced sweating.
Flattening of ridges from wear, eczema of the hands or hand-foot syndrome from some cancer drugs.
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