A Comparison Study on Ridge Density Among Males and Females in North Chennai

ABSTRACT The number of friction ridges per unit area of a fingerprint, or Fingerprint Ridge Density (FPRD), is a useful biometric marker that is frequently employed in anthropological and forensic studies. Because males and females have known biologically different ridge patterns, it is important for individual identification and can help with gender differentiation. Generally speaking, females have higher ridge densities than males because their ridges are finer and more closely spaced. The purpose of this study is to examine the differences in ridge density between males and females residents of North Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. A total of 100 participants, ages 20 to 50, were chosen at random (50 men and 50 women). A magnifying lens and transparent ruler were used to measure the ridge density within a 25mm² radius of the index finger after fingerprints were gathered using the inkless paper method. The mean, range, and standard deviation for each group were assessed using descriptive statistical analysis. According to the results, the average ridge density for males was 13.36, with a range of 8 to 17, while the average for females was 12.88, with a range of 10 to 19. Both groups showed similar variability, with standard deviations of 1.88 (for males) and 1.83 (for females), despite minor variations in average values. Males had a normal distribution, according to histogram and bar chart analysis, while females had a slight right skew because of higher ridge counts in some situations. KEYWORDS: Fingerprint Ridge Density, Comparison, North Chennai, Fingerprint.