PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION (DACTYLOSCOPY)
Fingerprint Classification
Classification - is the method of obtaining a formula for a set of fingerprints whereby it
may be located in the filling cabinet.
Classification Formula - is the numerical description for a set of classified fingerprints
which is composed of figure and letters written above the horizontal line like a fraction.
Blocking - is the process of writing below each finger-print pattern the corresponding
symbols of its name.
Six Divisions of Classifications in Order According to their Importance
(Edward Henry “Henry System”)
1. Primary Classification
2. Secondary Classification
3. Sub-secondary classification
4. Major Division
5. Key
6. Final
Formation in classification line
Key Maj. Prim. Sec. [Link]. Final
Div. Class. Class Class Class
1. Primary Classification – is the sum total of all numerical values of whose found in
fingerprint set expressed as the numerator and the denominator plus the pre- established
fraction of one over 1 (1/1).
How to get the primary classification
a. By Pairing
b. By assigning numerical values to whorl patterns only
Types of Fingerprint Patterns (Symbol)
Without numerical value: A, T, R, U
With numerical value: W, C, D, X
b. Knowing the numerators and denominators in the pairs
Note: Even Number- Numerator
Odd Number- Denominator
c. Summing up the numerical values of whorls assigned to the fingers plus the pre-
established fraction of 1/1
N= 16+8+4+2+1 = 31+1 = 32
D= 16+8+4+2+1 = 31+1 = 32
Number of Possible Combination in Primary Classification
• There are 1,024 possible combination for primary classification from 1/1 to 32/32.
• 1/1 – lowest primary classification
• 32/32 – highest primary classification
Note: Whorl type of pattern is the only fingerprint patterns with numerical values and
an arbitrary count of one (1) is always added.
Purpose of Fixed Count of One:
The purpose is to avoid a classification of zero over zero (0/0) in a set of prints in which this
might be mistaken for a letter “O” which has another specific meaning in the classification.
CLASSIFICATION OF AMPUTATIONS AND FINGERS MISSING AT BIRTH
• If one finger is amputated, it is given a classification identical with that of the opposite
finger, including pattern and ridge count or tracing.
1|Page
PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION (DACTYLOSCOPY)
• If two or more finger are amputated they are given classification identical with the
opposite fingers.
• If two amputated finger are opposite each other, both are given the classification of
whorls with meeting tracing.
• When fingerprint card bearing notation of fingers missing at birth is classified, the
missing fingers should be treated as amputations in that they are given the identical
classification of the opposite fingers.
1. Secondary Classification – is the exhibition of Capital Letter symbols of plain arch,
tented arch, radial loop, ulnar loop, plain whorl, central-pocket loop, double loop
whorl, and accidental found in the index finger of both hands.
- The pattern appearing on the right index should be placed on the numerator and
the pattern appearing on the left index should be placed on the denominator.
- There are twenty five (25) possible combinations which may appear in the index
finger from A/A to W/W without C, D, and X. (Collins) There are 64 combinations
for filing from A/A to X/X.
Secondary Small Letter Classification - It is the exhibition of small letter symbols of
arch, tented arch and radial loop found before and after the index finger of both
hands.
2. Sub- Secondary Classification – is the exhibition of the resultant symbol for the
ridge counting in loops as expressed by symbol I and O and ridge tracing for whorl as
expressed by symbol IMO from the right index to the left ring finger excluding the
thumbs and the little fingers of both hands.
- Fingers to be considered are: index finger, middle finger, and ring finger of
both hands.
Loop Sub- Secondary by Ridge Counting – It is the exhibition of the resultant
symbol for the ridge counting in loops as expressed by symbol IO found from
indexes, middles and ring fingers of both hands, the ridges are counted and
compound to the pre-established table to obtain the resultant symbol IO. All loop sets
of prints using the Index, Middle, and Ring fingers of both hands has sixty four (64)
combinations.
Whorl Sub- Secondary by Ridge Tracing - when the whorl is found on the index,
middle and ring fingers of both hands the ridges are traced to obtain the resultant
symbol IMO. There are seven hundred twenty nine (729) possible Subsecondary
combinations for whorl type patterns in the Index, Middle, and Ring fingers of both
hands.
For whorl tracing:
Meeting (M) – 0 to 2 ridges from left delta to the right delta
Outer (O) – 3 or more ridges below the right delta
Inner (I) – 3 or more ridges above the right delta.
For Tented Arch and Plain Arch
If a Plain Arch or Tented arch are present on the index, middle, and ring fingers of
both hands, just put a dash (-) for the sub-secondary classification.
3. Major Division – is the exhibition of the ridge counting in loops as expressed by
symbol SML and the ridge tracing for whorls as expressed by symbols IMO found on
the thumbs of both hands.
Three (3) Kinds of Major Division
1) Loop Major Division – When the loop is found on the thumb of both hands, the
ridges are counted and compared to the pre- established table of Whorl Major
Division.
2|Page
PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION (DACTYLOSCOPY)
Denominator Numerator
Left Hand Right Hand
1- 11= S 1-11= S
12- 16= M 12- 16= M
17 > = L
17 > = L 1 – 17 = S
18 – 22 = M
23 > = L
2) Whorl Major Division – When the whorl is found on the thumbs of both hands, the
ridges are traced to obtain the resultant symbol IMO.
3) Combination of Loop and Whorl Major Division – When one of the thumbs is
loop, the resultant symbol SML is used and when the other thumb is whorl, the
resultant symbol IMO is used. For T and A just put dash in the classification line.
4. Final Classification – It is the ridge count of the loops an whorls found on the little
fingers of both hands. Arches and tented arches are represented by dashes in
classification formula.
- For T and A just put dash in the classification line.
- Final Classification is located or placed on the extreme right of the classification
line.
How to Ridge Count a Whorl:
- When a whorl is found on the right little finger, ridges are counted from left delta
to the core.
- When the whorl is found on the left little finger, ridges are counted from right delta
to the core.
5. Key Classification - It is the ridge count of the first loop from the right thumb to the
left ring finger excluding little fingers of both hands. In the absence of loop, the ridge
count of the first whorl will be utilized as the key treated as ulnar loop.
- For T and A just put dash in the classification line.
- The Key Classification is placed on the extreme left of the classification line and
is always represented as numerator, no matter where it is taken.
3|Page