Fingerprint Characteristics and Formation

Sa fingerprint impressions ay kaya munang malaman o makapag conclude kana kung ano
ang kanyang characteristics and formation base sa mga palatandaan o batayan na ginagamit para
dito.

• Loop Formation • Most numerous of all the types making 65% of all prints.

• Arch Formation

• Whorl Formation

Ngunit papaano naten malalaman o maclassify na ito si loop, si whorl at arch ang mga
ridges formations na ito.

LOOP

Is pattern in which one or more of the ridges start at the one side of the pattern, run
toward the upper corner on the opposite side, then turn around (recurve) and start back toward
the side from which they come originally forming loop with a core in the center and a delta at
the edge of the pattern area. Pero sino ngaba si core at delta? o Focal Points / Fingerprint
Terminus

1. Delta –(also called the outer terminus) is a point along a ridge formation found at the center
or near the center of the diverging type lines.

• (1) point on a ridge at or nearest to the point of divergence of two typelines

Type lines – a diverging ridge that tends to surround the pattern area and serves as a
basic boundary of fingerprint impression. start parallel, diverge, and surround or tend to
surround the pattern area.and

(2) is located at or directly in front of the point of divergence.

A. Types of Deltas

▪ A Bifurcation

▪ An abrupt ending ridge

▪ A dot

▪ A short ridge

▪ A meeting of two ridges

▪ A point on the first recurving ridge located nearest to the center and in front of the
divergence of the type line.

Core

• heart or the Inner Terminus

 • The approximate center of the finger impression. It will be necessary to
concern ourselves with the core of the loop type only.

• Placed upon or within the approximate center from the innermost sufficient
recurve.

A. Types of Core

▪ Bar or Rod

▪ Staple

▪ Fragmentary

Para matawag na loop, meron sya dapat ng mga requisites,

1. It must have a core.

2. Core is the center or heart of the fingerprint pattern. (hndi naman exact center, pero
approximately center)
3. It must have delta
4. It must have a recurving ridge that passes between the delta and core.
5. It must have a ridge count at least one. So para malaman mo dapat identified mo
muna kung nasaan si delta at core. Gagawa ka ngayon ng imaginary line (point of
reference mo). Lahat ng naka touch na ridge s imaginagy line at icount mo.

Two (2) types of Loops

Radial (R)- it is radial when the open end of the loop ridges points in the direction of the
thumb side of either the right or left hand.

Ulnar (U)- it is ulnar when the open end of the loop ridges points in the direction of the
little finger side (ulnar bone) of either the right or left hand.

ARCHES 5% (pattern without ridge count)

• TWO TYPES OR ARCHES

a. Plain Arch 60%– it is a type of fingerprint pattern in which one or more of the ridge flows or
tend to flow from one side of the impression to the other with a rise in the center. Doesn’t have a
looping ridge, and upthrust, or a recurve. Enter upon one side, make a rise or a wave at the center and
exits or tend to flow out upon the opposite side. (elements of plain arch) ERE-enter, rise and exit.

b. Tented Arch 40%– a type of fingerprint pattern which possesses an angle, upthrust or two of
the three basic characteristics of the loop. An angle or tent forming or, with upthrust at 45 degrees or
more from the horizontal plane and loops like but lacks a requirement of a loop. AUL-angle or tent
forming, Upthrust, Loop Like

WHORL FORMATION
 • A type of pattern in which has two deltas and at one ridge making a complete pattern circuit,
which may be spiral, oval, circular or any variant of a circle

• Types of Whorl

a. Plain Whorl

b. Central Pocket Loop Whorl

c. Double Loop Whorl

d. Accidental

Whorl- Whorl circular or spiral patterns, like tiny whirlpools. There are four groups of whorls:
plain (concentric circles), central pocket loop (a loop with a whorl at the end), double loop (two
loops that create an S-like pattern) and accidental loop (irregular shaped).

Elements of whorl

-two or more deltas

-at least one complete circulating ridge

What are the 4 types of whorl fingerprints?

There are four groups of whorls:

Plain W (concentric circles), Whorl, plain - A type of print pattern that consists of one or more friction
ridges making a complete circuit and two deltas; an imaginary line drawn between the two deltas
touches or crosses at least one recurving ridge within the inner pattern area.
A concentric circles is defined as two or more circles with a common center. Each concentric circle will
have a different radius but the same center point which is also called a midpoint.

Central pocket loop C (a loop with a whorl at the end), A type of print pattern that has two deltas and at
least one friction ridge that makes one complete circuit, which may be spiral, oval, circular, or any variant
of a circle; No circuiting ridge within the pattern area is touched or crosses by an imaginary line drawn
the two deltas.
Double loop D (two loops that create an S-like pattern) A double loop whorl consists of two separate and
distinct loop formations with two separate and distinct shoulders and two deltas.

Accidental loop X (irregular shaped). A type of print pattern consisting

of the combination of two different types of patterns (excluding the plain arch) with two or more deltas

What is the difference between whorl and central pocket loop?

If an imaginary line is drawn between the two deltas contained within these two patterns, and if the line
touches any one of the spiral ridges, the pattern is a plain whorl. If no such ridge is touched, the pattern
is considered a central pocket loop.
Ridges counting is for loop pattern or formation

Requisites of a loop

a. Delta and core

b. Sufficient recurve

c. At least a ridge count of one.

• Sufficient recurve – a recurving ridge which is complete with its shoulder and free
from any appendages.

• Appendages – is a short ridge found at top or summit of a recurve.

Ridge count

It is the number of ridges intervening between the delta and the core.

• Rules in Ridge Counting:

Draw a line between delta and core. As long as you touch or cross a ridge, you have a ridge
count.

1. One ridge must be a looping ridge.

2. Delta and core are not counted.

3. Fragments and dots are counted as ridges only if they appear as thick as the
surrounding ridges.

4. If you cross a bifurcation, count each of its arms.

5. If the delta is on the only loop, there is no ridge count.

6. White space must intervene between delta and the first ridge count.

When the imaginary line crosses or touches the:

a. point of bifurcation of a ridge, two ridges are counted

b. point of bifurcation of an enclosure, two ridges are counted

c. ending ridge, one ridge is counted.

d. short ridge, one ridge is counted

e. long ridge, one ridge is counted.

 f. dot (if as thick and as heavy as the other ridges, one ridge is counted.

g. fragmentary ridge, (if as thick and as heavy as the other ridges, one ridge is
counted.

h. point of convergence of two ridges are counted.

i. point of three ridges, three ridges are counted.

Ridges tracing is for whorl pattern or formation