Bilateral Variability of Plantar Dermatoglyphics in Mordva-Moksha

DOI: 10.33876/2311-0546/2026-2/344-359

Authors

Keywords:

physical anthropology, plantar dermatoglyphics, bilateral variability, symmetry index, Mordva-Moksha people

Abstract

Bilateral variability in feet papillary patterns is not sufficiently studied. More detailed and comprehensive research is necessary, along with the accumulation of data from different populations. This article presents the results of a study on the bilateral symmetry of plantar dermatoglyphics in 240 Moksha people of southwestern Mordovia. We examined the pattern types in each sole region, triradii, directions of the main palmar lines, and heel ridges. An analysis of the overall feature symmetry showed weak bilateral differences in plantar dermatoglyphics. The only exception is the course of the papillary lines in the heel area, although symmetrical variants predominate for this feature as well. While the level of bilateral symmetry is high overall, it varies in different areas of the foot and depends partly on the variability of dermatoglyphic characteristics. The degree of asymmetry increases from the proximal to the distal areas of the sole and from the fibular to the tibial pads. There are no significant sex differences in the symmetry of the foot’s papillary patterns, although this may be due to the small sample size. Trends in feature distribution on the right and left feet of the Moksha people correspond to the data from other groups. Statistically significant bilateral differences are found in the endings of the main plantar lines and the ridges of the heel area.

Author Biographies

  • Irina Slavolyubova, Lomonosov Moscow State University

    Slavolyubova, Irina A. — Ph.D. in Biology, Associate Professor of the Department of Anthropology of the Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University (Moscow, Russian Federation). E-mail: irinasla2010@mail.ru  ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-0956-2176

  • Ivan Filkin, Lomonosov Moscow State University

    Filkin, Ivan A. — Graduate of the Department of Anthropology of the Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University (Moscow, Russian Federation). E-mail: filkiniva@rambler.ru  ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5973-8355

    For Citation: Slavolyubova, I. A., and I. A. Filkin. 2026. Bilateral Variability of Plantar Dermatoglyphics in Mordva-Moksha. Herald of Anthropology (Vestnik Antropologii) 2: 344–359.

    Funding: The work was carried out within the framework of the budgetary theme of the Department of Anthropology of the Faculty of Biology of Lomonosov Moscow State University "Formation of Some Morphofunctional Features of the Human in Philo- and Ontogenesis" (number CITIS: 121031600200-2).

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Published

11.06.2026

Issue

No. 2 (2026): Herald of Anthropology (Vestnik antropologii)

Section

Physical anthropology