Original Research Paper Accuracy in Sex Determination Using Cheiloscopy and Palatoscopy: a Comparative Study

Aim and Objectives : The present study was aimed to nd gender differences in lip prints and rugae pattern and also to correlate particular lip print and rugae pattern. Methodology 150 individuals (75 male and 75 female) were included for the study. Lip prints were taken on the glued portion of cellophane strip and was stuck on the white bond paper. The grooves present on the middle portion of the lower lip was visualized as proposed by Sivapathasundram et al. Lip prints were studied according to the classication proposed by Tsuchihashi. For Palatoscopy casts were made on dental stone and the rugae pattern was studied according to the classication proposed by Kapali et al. Results : The data obtained were stastically analyzed using Chi square test and unpaired T test and signicant difference was found between males and females for lip prints but no signicant difference was found for the rugae pattern except for the wavy pattern. Type IV pattern of lip print was common in both males and females but was more in males followed by type I and I' and wavy type of rugae pattern was more in females as compared to males. On correlating particular lip print and rugae pattern, wavy type of pattern was more followed by curved type in all lip prints. Conclusion : Lip prints and rugae pattern are unique for a person so Cheiloscopy and Palatoscopy can be used as a simple and valuable tool for identication purposes.