Why do fingertips have ridges?
Show answer & explanation
Answer: Improve grip and touch
Signal that the body is low on water — Wrong. Dehydration can dry the skin, but fingerprints are permanent ridges, not a hydration signal.
Improve grip and touch ✓ — Correct! Fingertip ridges increase friction and help us sense tiny textures. They form before birth and stay mostly stable through life.
Form from random skin folds — Wrong. These ridges are not random creases. They form in patterned ways during development and help with grip and touch.
Go deeper: Dermatoglyphics
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