Palatal rugae, also called as plicae palatinae transverse or rugae palatine refers to the ridges or elevations on the anterior part of the palatal mucosa present on either side of the mid palatine raphe behind the incisive papilla. It is widely present in mammals. Studies of palatal rugae (rugoscopy) can be successfully implemented to reveal the identity of an individual. Rugoscopy can be used as compensatory process to dactyloscopy. Palatal rugae had been applied in various fields such as anthropology, comparative anatomy, genetics, forensic odontology, prosthodontics and orthodontics. This study analyzes the rugae pattern in dentulous and edentulous patients and also evaluates the association of rugae pattern between male and female.

Key words: Forensic Identification; Palatal Rugae; Rugoscopy.