THE FINGERPRINT PATTERNS
A person who is familiar with fingerprints will find it easy to name and identify the patterns for
purposes of classification. But those who do not have an idea of fingerprint pattern will need
some explanation in order to see a clear picture of it.
To an ordinary person, a fingerprint seems to be a puzzle to decipher a pattern when it is
presented to him. But to those who possess the basic knowledge of pattern interpretation will not
waste so much time in designating a name for every pattern. With this familiarity of the friction
ridge design, we have come to know that there are only three general groups of fingerprint
patterns. Each of this group or family may have the same characteristics or resemblance. These
resemblances of patterns may be further decided into sub-groups or types.
Categories of Fingerprints
1. Loops are composed of 60% frequency.
2. Whorls are composed of 35% frequency.
3. Arches are composed of 5% frequency.
Loop Patterns Frequency
1. Radial Loop is composed of 6% frequency.
2. Ulnar Loop is composed of 94% frequency.
Whorl Patterns Frequency
1. Plain Whorl is composed of 71% frequency.
2. Central Pocket Loop Whorl is composed of 13% frequency.
3. Double Loop Whorl is composed of 13% frequency.
4. Accidental Whorl is composed of 3% frequency.
Arch Patterns Frequency
1. Plain Arch is composed of 60% frequency.
2. Tented Arch is composed of 40% frequency.
Basic Fingerprint Patterns
1. Plain arch (A). It is a pattern in which the ridges enter on one side of
the pattern then flow toward the other side, with a rise at the center.
Plain arch is the most simple of all fingerprint patterns. In fact, there is
almost an absence of any pattern rather than the presence of one,
because actually, they do not form real patterns at all. They are called
patterns not because they form themselves into any specific designs,
but because they are “types” of fingerprints and because they have to
have a name to be used in the interpretation and classification (Gilbert,
1998).
The word arch suggests a curve opening. Webster’s Dictionary defines it as “any part of
geometrically curve line. In architecture, a member made up of wedge-shaped solids, to
support weight above an opening”. The arch as a fingerprint pattern shows a smooth rise in
the center and a gentle upward curve. The rise or upward curve has a striking resemblance to
an ocean wave, a billowing of ridges with a gentle curvature at the center (Collins, 2006 p.
7).
2. Tented arch (T). It is a fingerprint pattern where majority of the ridges form an arch and one
or more ridges at the center shape a tent in outline giving an angle of 90 degrees or less or
one with an upward thrust having an angle of 45% or more, or a pattern similar to a loop but
lacking one or two of its essential elements (Vinluan & Mendoza, 2006 p.36).
Tented arches are a variety of the arch family, but their ridge
formations are not as simple as those of a plain arch. The tented arch is
considered transitional pattern between a plain arch and a loop. Its
resemblance to each other is so close sometimes, that great care must be
taken in examining its ridge formations so as not to mistakenly interpret
it as a loop or a plain arch (Swanson, [Link], 1996).
In tented arch, most of the ridges enter upon one side of the
impression and flow or tend to flow out upon the other side, as in plain arch type; however, the
ridge or ridges at the center do not (Tubid, 1996 p.31).
Types of Tented Arch
1. One or more ridges in the center form an upthrust.
2. One or more ridges in the center form a definite angle.
3. The type approaching the loop pattern, possessing two or three essential characteristics of
a loop, but lacking one or two characteristics.
3. Radial Loop (R). It is a fingerprint pattern that has a downward slope or slanting of the
ridges towards the direction of the thumb either to the right or left hand.
About 60-70% of all types of finger print patterns are loops.
This means that about six out of every ten patterns are loop patterns.
A loop is that type of fingerprint pattern in which one or more of
the ridges enter on either side of the impression, recurve, touch or pass
an imaginary line drawn from the delta to the core, and terminates or
tends to terminate on or toward the same side of the impression from
where such ridge or ridges entered. (Manlusoc, 2008 p.20-21).
4. Ulnar Loop (U). It is a fingerprint pattern where the direction of the
ridges flows towards the little finger side of either right or left hand. The term Ulnar came from
the Greek term ulna which means little finger bone (Manlusoc, 2008 p. 20).
Requisites of a Loop. After having an idea of how a loop pattern is
formed, let us look at the more technical aspect of the formation of a
loop pattern. An impression must possess the following elements to
be considered a loop:
1. It must have a delta.
2. It must have a core.
3. It must have a recurving ridge that passes between the core and
delta, and
4. It must have ridge count of atleast one.
Other Types of Loop
a. Plain Loop. The ridges in this pattern make a backward turn arranging themselves in
the form of a hairpin or staple.
b. Converging Loops. The ridges of this pattern converge sharply to give the pattern a
possible whorl like appearance.
c. Nutant Loop. The ridges of this pattern conform to the explanation of the plain loop
but in addition, the loop is bent over and drops usually towards the delta.
5. Plain Whorl (W). The fingerprint pattern consisting of two
deltas and in which at least one ridge makes a turn through one
complete circuit of 360 degrees. An imaginary line drawn between the
two deltas must touch or cross at least one of the circuiting whorl
ridges within the pattern area. The pattern is called elongated or oval
plain whorl if the ridges inside form elongated or oval shaped
appearance. They are called spiral or circular plain whorl when
the circuiting ridges form circular ridges that spiral around the pattern or any formation as
variant of circle. In medical studies, it is called the shell pattern.
Requisites of Plain Whorl
a. It must have a complete circuit.
b. It must have atleast two deltas.
c. Atleast one circuiting ridge is touched or crossed by an imaginary line traversing the
two deltas.
6. Central Pocket Loop Whorl (C). A fingerprint pattern which
possesses two deltas, with one or more ridges forming a complete
circuit which may be oval, spiral, circular, or any variant of a circle.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation defines central pocket
loop whorl as a pattern which “consists of one or more recurving
ridges, or an obstruction at right angles to the inner line of flow with
two deltas between which an imaginary line would cut or touch no
recurving ridge within the inner pattern area (Scott, 1978).
This pattern is sometimes called a “composite pattern,” which means that it is made up of
two patterns in one, a whorl inside a loop (Montojo, 2006).
Requisites of Central Pocket Loop Whorl
a. There must be at least one recurving ridge that rises at right angle.
b. It must have two deltas
c. There must be no recurving ridge within the pattern area touched or crossed by an
imaginary line drawn between the two deltas.
7. Double Loop Whorl (D) is a fingerprint pattern which is called
“composite”, consisting of two separate and distinct loop formations,
two sets of shoulders, and two deltas. The loops necessarily do not
have to be of the same length and size. The loops of a double loop
whorl need not possess the requirements of a loop. It is enough that the
elements mentioned earlier are found in such a pattern. (Fingerprint
Training Manual, p.33).
Types of Core Formation in Double Loop Whorl
1. “S” type pattern is a double loop formation where ridges form two loops and form an “S”
appearance between the two loops.
2. Interlocking type pattern is a double loop pattern formed opposite from each other and
interlock its ridges.
3. Twinned loop type pattern is a double loop pattern that possesses two well defined loops
where ridges embraced each other. This pattern does not require that the two loops must be
of the same size or length.
Requisites of a Double Loop Whorl
a. There must be two separate loop formations.
b. There must be two separate and distinct sets of shoulders.
c. There must be two or more cores and deltas.
8. Accidental Whorl (X) is a composite fingerprint pattern consisting of a combination of two
different types of patterns such as a loop and a whorl, or any combination of two different loops
and whorl type patterns. However, it cannot be a combination of a plain arch with any other
pattern. Unlike the other type patterns, an accidental whorl can have two or more deltas
(Yamauchi, 2009).
Requisites of Accidental Whorl
a. Combination of two different types of patterns such as a loop and a whorl; a loop and a
tented arch; a whorl and a tented arch, except the plain arch.
b. There must be two or more cores and deltas.