Abstract: In this research we studied the dermatoglyphic characteristics of medical college students belonging to the Han nationality from Hebei Province. A random sampling was conducted among 1020 individuals, which comprised 510 males and 510 females. It was found that frequency order of all fingerprint patterns of this southern area are represented as Lu > W > A > Lr but with significant differences in whorl patterns between the sexes. There was no significant difference of the arch patterns between two hands. Fingerprint patterns in ten fingers indicated significant difference, and the distribution of fingerprint patterns was bilaterally symmetrical. Corresponding fingerprint combinations from high to low were the same in the two sexes, specifically L / L > W / W > L/W > A/L > A/A > A/W. FRC in the five fingers also showed significant differences but TFRC between the two sexes had no significant difference. There was a difference in the frequency of T/I、III、IV between the two sexes. In conclusion, we believe that fingerprint distributions show that homotype combinations have a very high compatibility whereas allotype combinations have no compatibility. Dermatoglyphic growth is mainly controlled by inherited genetic factors but is also influenced by sex. This research data showed that the group in southern Hebei Province, Shandong Province and in Liaoning Province belong to the same sub-group of the Northern Group.

Key words: Dermatoglyphics; Fingerprint; Han; Palm-print