Outcome of sex determination from ulnar and radial ridge densities of Brazilians’ fingerprints: Applying an existing method to a new population

•Fingerprints have worldwide credibility in individualizing persons.•Fingerprint ridge density has yet to be studied in the Brazilian population.•In Brazilian adults, Ridge density is variable in different areas of fingerprints.•Ridge density variation can be conclusive in distinguishing sex.•An option to help identify victims in mass disasters or reduce the universe of suspects in a criminal investigation. Fingerprints do not repeat, varying from region to region on the same fingerprint and from person to person. Using this morphological exclusivity in the individualization of people is considered one of the most reliable methods of identification worldwide. Many populations have been studied with respect to sex determination from fingerprints. In this study, the ridge density from two different areas - ulnar and radial - of the ten fingerprints from 100 Brazilian men and 100 Brazilian women was ascertained and statistically analyzed. The aim was to check whether these characteristics depended on sex to distinguish them categorically. Women had significantly higher ridge density in both areas for the fingers analyzed globally. Sometimes, men and women showed statistically significant differences in hands and fingers. From ulnar and radial ridge densities, this research developed thresholds for sexual discrimination cases of human identification in Brazil.