Dermatoglyphics

High school (ages 12+)
Human Body

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/dermatoglyphics

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific discipline?Dermatoglyphics
2. What is the origin of term?Greek 'derma' (skin) and 'glyph' (carving)
3. Why do we have fingerprints?Fingerprints help you grip objects without slipping. They also give your hands extra traction when you walk on uneven or wet ground.
4. When do fingerprints form?Your fingerprints start forming in the womb during the third to fourth month of pregnancy. They are shaped by genes and the pressure from the amniotic fluid and the baby's movements.

Epidermal Ridges: Raised lines on the skin of fingers, palms, soles, and toes that form unique patterns.
Friction Ridges: Another term for epidermal ridges, emphasizing their role in grip and traction.
Minutiae: Specific details or characteristics of fingerprint ridges used for identification, such as ridge endings and bifurcations.
Chiromancy: The practice of fortune-telling through the examination of the lines and features of the hand; considered a pseudoscience.