A STUDY ON PALMAR DERMATOGLYPHICS OF MENTALLY RETARDED ADULTS IN SOUTH- SOUTHERN NIGERIA

This study was carried out to document the dermatoglyphic patterns of mentally retarded subjects in the southern part of Nigeria. Palmar prints were obtained from a total number of 17 subjects who attended a psychiatric clinic at Usele, Benin city, Nigeria. The prints were obtained using an ink and a white paper and analyzed using a magnifying lens and a protractor. The a-b ridge count, ATD angles and DAT angles were determined. Results obtained showed the average mean value for a-b ridge count in the right and the left hands in both sexes. The mean values of the right and left hands in males showed no significant difference in both hands. The mean values for a-b ridge count in the right and left hands in female were also obtained. The mean value for ATD angle in the right and left hands in males showed that the right hand had a significant higher ATD angle. For the females, the ATD angle in the right and left hands showed that the left hand had a higher non significant value for ATD angle in females. The DAT angles for the right and left hands in males and females were also obtained. The right hand of females had a higher value for DAT angle as compared to the left which was not significant. The palmar dermatoglyphic patterns for the mentally retarded individuals have been revealed in this study.

The results of this study could be of immense benefit to anthropologists, clinicians and forensic scientists.