title: Models for fingerprint pattern formation.
abstract: There is currently no general agreement on the process by which fingerprint (epidermal ridge) patterns form. Nevertheless, many possible mechanisms have been proposed. Based on an extensive literature review and mathematical modeling we argue that the pattern arises as the result of a buckling (folding) process in a cell layer of the epidermis. Using this model we were able to explain the long-known observation that the pattern type is related to the geometry of the embryonal fingertip.
authors: Theoretical Physics II, University of Bayreuth, 95440 Bayreuth, Germany. michael.kuecken@tu-dresden.de
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Kücken
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003878:Dermatoglyphics; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000502:physiology; D005528:Foot / Q000196:embryology; D006225:Hand / Q000196:embryology; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D012867:Skin / Q000196:embryology* / Q000294:innervation