Principal Components Analysis of Digital Dermatoglyphic Patterns in a Basque Population

Finger ridge counts of a Spanish Basque sample (841 males and 911 females) were subjected to principal components analysis. This analysis was carried out by means of correlation matrices computed from 20 ridge counts, using both radial and ulnar counts for each finger. The interpretation of the components was performed, firstly from the unrotated factorial matrix, and then from the rotated factorial matrix. Rotation permitted a better resolution of the components. Our results also showed the contrast between the radial and ulnar sides of fingers and the existence of three digital components which represent the "radiality," the "ulnarity" and the intermediate position.