Sex Estimation using Footprint Ridge Density – A Mini Review
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 12965867 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Saumya Seal (0009-0009-1880-9194, Comenius University Bratislava), Michal Soták (0009-0000-2966-4597, Comenius University Bratislava), Mária Chovancová (0000-0002-9244-9563, Comenius University Bratislava), Petra Švábová (0000-0001-7497-4359, Comenius University Bratislava), Radoslav Beňuš (0000-0001-5917-1689, Comenius University Bratislava) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 89 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 39-50 |
| Publication date | 2026-03-12 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Anthropological Review (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1898-6773 • E-ISSN: 2083-4594 |
| Publisher | De Gruyter Open (PUBLISHER • PL) |
| DOI | 10.18778/1898-6773.89.1.04 |
| OpenAlex | W7135024322 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 35 |
INTRODUCTION The epidermal level of human footprint possesses raised ridges and furrows, which form unique patterns. Ridge density quantification, involving counting the ridges within a predefined unit area, emphasizes variability due to differences in epidermal ridge thickness. Analyses of these ridges exhibit sex-based differences, making it important for forensic identification purposes. STUDY AIM The present mini review was conducted to showcase a targeted synthesis of seven research articles related to sex estimation using Footprint Ridge Density (FPRD). METHODS Relevant studies were identified through the search engines Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus and ResearchGate, using Boolean operators and/or, between 2010 and August 2025. RESULTS Higher FPRD were observed in females and statistically significant sexual dimorphism was inferred across plantar and toe regions, particularly at the medial ball and selected toe areas. CONCLUSIONS This review provides key inferences from the existing literature and points out the potentiality of using FPRD as a reliable parameter in sex estimation studies to improve forensic procedures
Density estimation · Estimation · Footprint · Ridge · Sexual dimorphism · Biometric Identification and Security · Forensic and Genetic Research · Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies
Variability of palmprint ridge density in a North Indian population and its use in inference of sex in forensic examinations
Footprint ridge density
Radioulnar contrasts in fingerprint ridge counts
Sex differences in radioulnar contrasts of the finger ridge counts across 21 human population samples
Palmar and plantar epidermal ridge configurations (dermatoglyphics) in European‐Americans
Types and distribution of the patterns on ball area of bare footprint
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |