What is the inherited condition called when ridge units are present but do not fuse to form friction ridges?

The correct answer is dysplasia, which refers to a condition where there is an abnormal development or growth of tissues or organs. In the context of fingerprints, dysplasia indicates that while ridge units, which are the fundamental components of fingerprints, are present, they do not properly fuse to create the distinct patterns seen in friction ridges.

This lack of fusion can lead to incomplete or malformed ridge patterns on the fingertips. Understanding dysplasia is vital for latent print examiners as it could impact the clarity and uniqueness of fingerprint patterns, which are critical for identification purposes.

In contrast, aplasia refers to the absence of an organ or part, hyperplasia indicates an increase in the number of cells beyond normal, and hypoplasia denotes underdevelopment or incomplete development of an organ or tissue. These other terms do not accurately describe the condition where ridge units are present but fail to fuse into cohesive friction ridges, making dysplasia the most fitting choice in this context.