Ridges and Furrows

This is my first Blip upload of a photograph using my 90mm Tamron macro. Been rock climbing tonight at my local indoor climbing centre and had a really good session, successfully climbing a 6c grade (a new all-time best). Chalk is an essential ingredient in climbing and is applied (fairly liberally in my case due to my heavy perspiration) to the palms and fingers to absorb sweat and increase friction. Friction and grip is ultimately achieved from the friction ridge skin that covers your hands (and also feet), the skin that makes up your fingerprints. The skin is made up of intricately patterned ridges and furrows and it is the configuration of the ridged skin that provides grip (just like the tread of a car tyre or shoe). Along the ridges are the sweat pores, which in this photograph can be seen as small white dots along the ridges or 'lines' of the fingerprint. The chalk also gets into these pores, helping to restrict perspiration, keeping your hands dry and providing maximum friction and grip.