Dermatoglyphics and flexion creases in the Lebanese population

Abstract A comparison of finger and palmar dermatoglyphics in eight representative samples of the Lebanese population totaling 480 individuals, males and females, showed fairly similar characteristics in spite of the religious isolation of these groups. As in other populations of the Near and the Middle East, finger patterns in Lebanon are particularized by a higher whorl frequency and lower loop and arch frequencies than in Western Caucasoid populations. Palmar features are similar, as a rule, to those of other Caucasoid populations. But some differences exist: a high frequency of absence of triradius c, an inversion of sexual distribution of the third interdigital patterns, and a predominance of D line termination at position 9, in one female group only. These peculiarities are found in some of the other populations of the Near and Middle East. They indicate perhaps an ancient Mongoloid influence that numerous historic invasions of the whole region make possible. As far as available data allow comparisons, dermatoglyphics of the Middle East populations may be described as “Oriental Mediterranean.” Blood groups, like dermatoglyphics data, fit the geographic situation of Lebanon, lying at the cross‐roads of Europe, Asia and Africa.