Abstract
Digital flexion creases on the second to fifth fingers were studied for 203 male and 201 female Japanese, using a simplified classification scheme. The distal interphalangeal areas of the four fingers and the proximal ones of the second and fifth digits are characterized by a small number of creases. Higher numbers of creases were observed most on the proximal interphalangeal areas. The metacarpo-phalangeal area and the proximal phalanx of the third finger showed the largest number of creases located apart from the common position of flexion creases (extra creases). Extra+ creases lying approximately in the middle of the phalanx were rare and, in most cases, restricted to the middle phalanges. Generally, lower numbers of creases appear more frequently in males. Triplets, or crease form combinations of the.three areas of one digit, are presented in the order of frequency. The general tendencies observed by comparing the two sexes and the two sides were similar in the Japanese and Viennese samples, although lower numbered creases were more frequently observed on some digital areas of Japanese.
