title: Plantar and digital dermatoglyphic characteristics of Zimbabwean subjects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish the dermatoglyphic characteristics of indigenous Zimbabwean subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study of randomly selected subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mufakose, a high-density township in cosmopolitan Harare and Gweru, a midland city in Zimbabwe.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dankmeijer (DI) and pattern intensity (PII) indices and the variability of ridge patterns.
  
  
  METHODS
  Bilateral plantar and digital prints of the sole of selected subjects were recorded, studied and classified.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plantar pattern types, showed more loops than arches and more arches than whorls. The loops and arches were commoner on the distal than proximal zones of the sole; features also shown in Malawians. Whorls were absent in zone II and this appears to be peculiar to Zimbabweans. Digital pattern types showed the predominance of arches as was the case with Malawians but loops were the most prominent in the first digit and next in overall prominence to arches. The mean PII was higher in males than females while DI was higher in females than males, which were also the case with Malawian subjects previously studied. However, for both sexes the PII was significantly higher in Zimbabweans than Malawians while DI was significantly lower in Zimbabweans than Malawians (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study has elucidated the normal dermatoglyphic characteristics of Zimbabweans, showing features that indicate affinities with Malawians. The digital features, however, could differentiate Zimbabweans better from Malawians, further emphasising the uniqueness of digital ridge patterns in differentiating population groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Private Bag 360, Blantyre 3, Malawi.
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Igbigbi
authors.forename: B C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Msamati
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D044383:Black People; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003878:Dermatoglyphics; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot; D006801:Humans; D008295:Malawi; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011897:Random Allocation; D015030:Zimbabwe