Journal of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology
SCOPUS
  • Year: 2023
  • Volume: 40
  • Issue: 2

Effect of dexterity and gender on fingernail configuration in medical students

  • Author:
  • Pavanchand H Shetty1,*, Malvika Gupta2, Vageesha2, Jagadish PP Rao1, B Suresh Kumar Shetty3, Prateek Rastogi4, Haneil Larson Dsouza1
  • Total Page Count: 4
  • Page Number: 37 to 40

1Associate professor, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India

2MBBS Intern, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India

3Professor and Associate Dean, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India

4Professor and Head, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India

*Corresponding Author Pavanchand Shetty H, Associate Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India, Email: pavanchand.shetty@manipal.edu

Online published on 1 April, 2024.

Abstract

Identification is a very important aspect of criminal investigation. Corpus delicti clearly explains the importance of positive identification in the criminal justice system. Various studies in the past have proved that nails vary very little with season. The anthropology of the nail can therefore become a very important tool for identification.

A cross sectional study was conducted on the 4th and 6th semester medical trainees which included 125 male and 125 female medical trainees. The width of the fingernail and the radius of Transverse Curvature was measured.

The median of W/L ratio of dominant hands was found to be greater than that of non-dominant hands. The study proves that the extent of mechanical stress on the respective hand can possibly influence the size and shape of the nail plate. The study also showed that the median value of both the W/L and Radius of Curvature was more in males compared to females.

Keywords

Identification, Fingernail, Anthropology, Dexterity, Gender