FINGERPRINT PATTERNS
FINGERPRINT PATTERNS
TERMINOLOGY
Common terms used by Identification
specialists to describe and understand a
fingerprint.
TERMINOLOGY
A RIDGE: Friction Ridge
A raised portion of the epidermis on the
palmar or plantar skin, consisting of one or
more connected ridge units of friction ridge
skin.
SWGFAST glossary-consolidated 09-09-03
TERMINOLOGY
MINUTIAE: CHARACTERISTICS
Features of the friction ridges. Commonly
referred to as minutiae, Galton Details, point,
feature, ridge formation, ridge morphology.
SWGFAST Glossary Consolidated 09/09/03
TERMINOLOGY
THE CORE:
The Approximate center of the pattern.
SWGFAST Glossary Consolidated 09/09/03
TERMINOLOGY
THE DELTA:
The point on a ridge at the nearest to the
point of divergence of two type lines, and
located at or directly in front of the point of
divergence.
SWGFAST Glossary consolidated 09/09/03
TERMINOLOGY
RECURVING RIDGE:
Any ridge which retraces its own course.
RCMP Fingerprint Autoclass guide 1997
TERMINOLOGY
RECIRCUITING RIDGE:
A ridge that retraces its own course in a
circular pattern.
FINGERPRINT PATTERNS
THREE MAIN CATEGORIES
• ARCH
• LOOP
• WHORL
FINGERPRINT PATTERNS
SUB CATEGORIES
ARCH
• ARCH
• TENTED ARCH
FINGERPRINT PATTERNS
SUB CATEGORIES
LOOP
• RADIAL
• ULNAR
• NUTANT
FINGERPRINT PATTERNS
SUB CATEGORIES
WHORL
• PLAIN WHORL
• CENTRAL POCKET LOOP WHORL
• DOUBLE LOOP WHORL
• COMPOSITE WHORL
• ACCIDENTAL WHORL
Definition: The Arch pattern is made
up of ridges lying one
above the other in a general arching
formation (Henry Definition)
Ridges laying one
on top of the next in
a general arching
formation
Definition: The Tented Arch pattern consists of at
least one up-thrusting ridge which tends to bisect
superior ridges at right angles
Up-Thrust: This refers to a ridge (or Ridges)
whose course is in an upward direction and would,
if continued, bisect superior ridges at right angles
more or less.
Exception
A tented arch could also be described as an arch with a
tented or UPTHRUSTING formation in the Central part of the
pattern. This pattern may or may not have a point of delta.
Up thrusting ridge
whose course is in an
upward direction and
would bisect superior
ridges at a right angle .
Multiple Up
Thrusting ridges
Definition: The loop pattern consists of re-curving
ridges with a core delta distance of three units or more
and one point of delta. Three or less is a tented arch.
Radial Loop: Named for the radius bone in the forearm.
The Radius bone, on the thumb side of the hand,
establishes the origin of the re-curve or loop.
Ulnar Loop: Named for the ulna bone in the forearm.
The ulna bone, on the small finger side of the hand,
establishes the origin of the re-curve or loop.
Recurving
ridge
One point
of Delta
Ridges flow
from the
radial or
thumb side of
the hand
Re-curving
ridge
One point of
Delta
Ridges flow
from the Ulna
or small finger
side of the
hand
The “Nutant Loop” or “droopy” loop does not
appear that often however they generally appear in
the thumbs with the re-curves originating from the
thumb side of the hand, making it a radial loop
Formation is bent over
and gives the appearance
of a “droopy loop”.
Definition: The Whorl pattern consists of two or more
points of delta. There must be at least three re-curves
from the outermost deltas to the point of core. The flow
of the outermost deltas must originate from opposite
sides of the pattern area.
Three or more
re-curves from
the outermost
delta to the
point of core.
Two or more
points of delta
Definition: The central pocket loop patter consists of
one or more free re-curving ridges and two points of
delta. When a line is drawn between the two points of
Delta, it will fail to bisect any of the ridges belonging
to the core group.
One or more
free re-
curving
ridges
Two points
of delta
If a line were drawn
between the points of delta,
it would not bisect any of
the ridges belonging to the
core group.
Definition: The Double Loop pattern, the re-curving
ridges present two loop formations, separate and apart.
There are two points of Delta. The flows for the deltas
originate from opposite sides of the patterns.
Two Looping patterns
separate and apart.
Two points of delta
Definition: The Composite pattern contains two or more
separate and different patterns, not including the arch.
If one pattern were removed there would be another
complete pattern remaining.
Definition: The Accidental differs from the Composite in
that the patterns are combined rather than being separate.
If one of the patterns were removed there would not
be a complete pattern remaining, exclusive of the
arch.
Two or more different
patterns, separate and
apart, exclusive of the
arch.
If One pattern were
removed the other would
remain intact.