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Sexual dimorphism in epidermal ridge density and thickness asymmetry indices among hausa population of Kano State Nigeria
Lawan Hassan Adamu1, Samuel Adeniyi Ojo2, Barnabas Danborno3, Samuel Sunday Adebisi3, Magaji Garba Taura4
1 Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria
2 Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna, Nigeria
3 Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna, Nigeria
4 Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria; Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, University of Bisha, Bisha, Saudi Arabia
Correspondence Address:
Dr. Lawan Hassan Adamu
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Bayero University Kano, PMB 3011, Kano
Nigeria
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/njecp.njecp_21_16
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Background: The small deviations from perfect symmetry between body sides for bilateral characters may result in random errors. This is measured using the type of symmetry called fluctuating asymmetry (FA). Objectives: The objectives of the present study were to determine the sexual dimorphism in asymmetry indices using thumbprints ridge count and thickness among the Hausa ethnic group. To also investigate the existence of FA using thumbprint ridge count and thickness among the Hausa population, of Kano state. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. A total of 217 participants comprising 112 males and 105 females participated in the study. From plain thumbprint 25 mm2 ulnar, radial and proximal areas were defined for ridge count and thickness determination. Results: The result showed a significant sex differences in signed asymmetry (SA) in ulnar ridge counts with males and females exhibited leftward and rightward asymmetry, respectively. In radial and proximal ridge counts in both sexes, the asymmetry was leftward and rightward, respectively. In the ulnar area, significant sexual dimorphism was observed in both absolute and composited asymmetry with females having higher means asymmetry indices. In the entire sample, females had a higher mean value of asymmetry. SA is not significantly different from the mean of zero in both males and females. All the counts and thickness exhibit fluctuating type of asymmetry in both sexes. Conclusion: males have a low level of asymmetry compared to females in this population. The possible existence of fluctuating type of asymmetry was observed. The ridge density and thickness may be used to study the level of developmental stability and stress during intrauterine life in this population.
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