Indian Journal of Anatomy / Volume 7 Number 4 / July - August 2018 424 ©Red Flower Publication Pvt.Ltd Indian Journal of Anatomy Volume 7 Number 4, July - August 2018 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.21088/ija.2320.0022.7418.13 Original Article Author’s Affiliation: 1 Assistant Professor 2 Assistant Professor, 3 Professor, Department of Anatomy, S.M.B.T. Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Center, Dhamangaon, Tal. Igatpuri, Dist. Nashik, Maharashtra 422403, India. Corresponding Author: Dr. Datta Nandanvankar, Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy, SMBT Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Center, Dhamangaon, Tal. Igatpuri, Dist. Nashik, Maharashtra 422403, India. E-mail: vaishali.ahire@gmail.com Received  14.04.2018, Accepted  05.05.2018 A Quantitative Study of Palmar Dermatoglyphics in Congenital Heart Diseases Vaishali S. Anturlikar 1 , Datta Nandanvankar 2 , Prashant Bhusari 3 Introduction Dermatoglyphics refers to the branch of science which studies the patterns of skin ridges present on fingers, toes and soles of human being. Since ancient times these ridge patterns and lines were used by palmists and future tellers for predicting the future. In 17 th century it was studied scientifically for the first time by anatomist Midlow. Thumb print is used till date by illiterates as a mark of signature. Recently the scope of dermatoglyphics has been amply recognized with expanding horizons of medical science in explaining certain diagnostic and aetiopathological riddle in various diseases, especially with heridofamilial background. Certain definitive dermatoglyphic patterns were released when many workers observed that significant deviations were present on dermatoglyphic pattern in some conditions which are thought to be genetically influenced like Mongolism, Turner’s syndrome, Mental retardation and Leukemia. The dermatoglyphic patterns were also studied in Cardiovascular disorders, Diabetes, Schizophrenia and ABO blood groups, which are thought to have genetic influence. The present study is undertaken to study the dermatoglyphic pattern in congenital heart diseases (CHD) and to compare it with previous studies. Aims & Objectives • To study the quantitative parameters of palmar dermatoglyphics in normal and CHD patients • To compare the quantitative parameters of palmar dermatoglyphics of CHD group with control group • To compare and correlate the findings of present study with previous studies Abstract Introduction: Dermatoglyphics refers to the branch of science which studies the patterns of skin ridges present on fingers, toes and soles of human being. Since ancient times these ridge patterns and lines were used by palmists and future tellers for predicting the future. Recently the scope of dermatoglyphics has been amply recognized with expanding horizons of medical science in explaining certain diagnostic and aetiopathological riddle in various diseases, especially with heridofamilial background. The present study is undertaken to study the dermatoglyphic pattern in congenital heart diseases (CHD) and to compare it with previous studies. Materials & Methods: The cross sectional study with comparison group was designed. Hundred patients of congenital heart diseases (CHD) i.e. CHD group and hundred patients without CHD i.e. control group were examined during study period. Dermatoglyphic prints were obtained by using standard protocol method and finger tip patterns i.e. Arches, whorls, radial loops and ulnar loops were studied. The quantitative parameters like whorl loop index, triradial count, pattern intensity index and ‘atd’ angle were studied and analysed. Results: Among the quantitative parameters, whorl loop index, triradial count and pattern intensity index showed statistically insignificant difference in CHD group and control group. But ‘atd’ angle was increased significantly in CHD group as compared to control group. Conclusion: There was statistically significant increase in the values of ‘atd’ angle in CHD group as compared to control group. Keywords: Dermatoglyphics; Whorl Loop Index; Triradial Count; Pattern Intensity Index; ‘ATD’ Angle.