Palatal Rugae: An Overview of Morphology, Development and Forensic Significance

Abstract

The palatal rugae or the rugae palatinae are anatomical formations seen inside the oral cavity, being an intrinsic feature of the hard palate region. The paper at hand investigates the anatomy, ontogeny and usability of palatal rugae for the forensic application. Given their specificity and variation between individuals, palatal rugae can be quite an effective means of individualization. This research investigates the future applications in forensic science and indicates the need for further research in this field.