PALMAR AND PLANTAR PADS AND FLEXION CREASES OF THE RAT (RATTUS-NORVEGICUS)

The recent detection of dermal ridge configurations on the volar pads of the rat (Rattus norvegicus) has created opportunities for experimen tal studies of dermatoglyphics. In the present work, the palmar and pl antar surfaces of the rat were studied to establish the feasibility of comparative rat and human dermatoglyphic investigations. The studied features included the volar pads and flexion creases. The number and l ocation of the palmar and plantar pads in the rat were found to be sim ilar to those of humans. The exception was a previously unrecognized s mall pad on the palms and soles of the rat, located on the radial and tibial side, respectively, of the proximal component of the first inte rdigital pad. This pad has no parallel in human embryos. Rats were fou nd to have flexion creases in the non-pad areas between the neighborin g pads, similar in location and appearance to those of humans. Unlike humans, however, rats also have boundary creases, separating the pad a nd non-pad areas. The marked similarities in the morphology of the vol ar areas between rats and humans make the rat ideally suitable for exp erimental studies of dermatoglyphics and flexion creases. Results of s uch studies should be applicable to human developmental dermatoglyphic s, including those pertaining to medical disorders. (C) 1994 Wiley-Lis s, Inc.