Abstract: Objective To analyze the occurrence and probability of the manifestation of finger pattern types in Han and Hui ethnics from Ningxia. Methods In this study, dermatoglyphic traits in Hui 262(male 129, female 146) and Han 352(male 206, female 146) were analyzed. Results In the entire sample, both Hui and Han were located around the ulnar loop and the whorl. Whereas this arrangement was significantly and typically different in pattern influence cases. When the arch occurred on one of the fingers, this pattern type was also much more frequent on the other nine fingers, whereas whorls were much less common. When there was an ulnar loop on one of the fingers, the frequency of the ulnar loop on the other nine fingers was higher, whereas the frequency of the whorl was lower, than in the entire sample. The frequency of the arch was not influenced by the occurrence of the ulnar loop on other fingers. However, the tendency was the opposite when there was a whorl on one of the fingers.Conclusion The formation and occurrence of pattern types on certain fingers is closely related to the pattern type on the other fingers, which is pattern influence. The pattern influence shows that if a given pattern type is present on one of the fingers, then, in these cases, the frequency of pattern types on the other nine fingers typically is different from that in the entire sample. Pattern influence was found in both Hui and Han nationalities, and in both sexes.

Key words: Fingerprint, Pattern influence, Hui nationality, Han nationality, Random sampling, Human