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by Nintendo777 on June 14th, 2005

Nintendo777

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Why do we have fingerprints?

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Answers. 5 helpful answers below.

  • by PondLady on June 15th, 2005

    PondLady

    Fingerprints, or "dermal ridges" are necessary for grip. If the skin on our fingers was completely smooth we would have a hard time keeping a grip on anything, especially if it is wet or our hands are sweaty.

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  • by Blacktrinity on June 19th, 2005

    Blacktrinity

    Fingerprints are formed when our skin contracts around our fingers aound the middle of pregnancy. The dermal ridges, patterns etc... formed are unique as this never happens in the same way twice. Fingerprints are the remnants of this process.

    As far as I know they do not have a noticable effect on being able to grip things. For example people can have no fingerprints (due to accidents with acids and the like) but still grip things successfully. Also we have toeprints which are just as unique but obviously toes do not serve this purpose.

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  • by MyNameIsMud on June 15th, 2005

    MyNameIsMud

    Gripping power is definatly the answer here....imagine grabbing the soap in the shower if we had no fingerprints.
    or an altermative thought is that it is a government conspiracy to keep us all in check, just depends on who you ask right?

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  • by Jonathan on April 10th, 2008

    Jonathan

    It has nothing to do with gripping power... you feel with you fingertips but you grip with your fingers and palm.
    Dermal ridges assist in fine sensory discrimination in the fingertips. Like all sensory receptors, somatosensory receptors like those in the skin and hands have what are known as receptive fields or areas where stimulation will result in the generation of action potentials and perception. Pressure on the skin corresponding to a particular neurons receptive field activates that neuron but excessive pressure on the same spot not only activates that neuron but also the neurons around it due to increase contortion of the surrounding tissues. (Don’t believe me? Poke yourself in the arm, hard!) Dermal ridges minimize this tissue strain in the fingertips increasing the fine spatial resolution of our sensory perceptions from this part of the body.

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  • by tinybubbles is sitting on the carpet read on August 5th, 2006

    tinybubbles is sitting on the carpet read

    so if we go missing or commit crimes the goverment or police can track us and it would be useful in court to prove a case.

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