Identification: permanence of fingerprints: practice question

A Forensic Medicine question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Forensic Medicine · Identification: permanence of fingerprints

Sample item

A habitual offender rubbed his fingertips on rough concrete to remove the ridges. After healing, his new prints match his old records. Which fact explains this?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. Ridge patterns are determined by the dermal papillae formed in fetal life, so loss of epidermis alone regenerates the same pattern

Friction ridges are a reflection of the dermal papillae, which are established by the fourth month of intrauterine life and are unique and permanent. Superficial abrasion or a superficial burn heals with the same pattern, whereas an injury destroying the dermis leaves a scar and alters it.

Option by option

  • A. Sweat gland secretions deposit the old pattern again on the new epidermis

    Sweat deposits leave marks, but they do not build the pattern.

  • B. Ridge patterns are determined by the dermal papillae formed in fetal life, so loss of epidermis alone regenerates the same pattern (correct)

    Correct. The dermal papillary layer is the template for the ridge pattern.

  • C. The pattern is determined by the epidermis alone, so even deep injuries always restore it unchanged

    Deep dermal injury does leave a permanent scar that changes or obliterates the pattern.

  • D. Ridges are formed after birth by repeated contact and re-form in the same way

    The pattern is fixed before birth and is not shaped by later contact.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Forensic Medicine question

What is the answer to this Forensic Medicine question?

The best answer is B, Ridge patterns are determined by the dermal papillae formed in fetal life, so loss of epidermis alone regenerates the same pattern. Friction ridges are a reflection of the dermal papillae, which are established by the fourth month of intrauterine life and are unique and permanent.

Why is "Sweat gland secretions deposit the old pattern again on the new epide…" not the answer?

Sweat deposits leave marks, but they do not build the pattern.

Why is "The pattern is determined by the epidermis alone, so even deep injuri…" not the answer?

Deep dermal injury does leave a permanent scar that changes or obliterates the pattern.

Why is "Ridges are formed after birth by repeated contact and re-form in the…" not the answer?

The pattern is fixed before birth and is not shaped by later contact.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Identification: permanence of fingerprints in Forensic Medicine. Superficial abrasion or a superficial burn heals with the same pattern, whereas an injury destroying the dermis leaves a scar and alters it.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Identification: permanence of fingerprints?

Learn postmortem changes with their timelines, and toxicology as poison, sign, test and antidote. Then use the flashcards and the other Forensic Medicine questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.