FingerprintFingerprintPatternsPatterns

(Based on the Henry Classification (Based on the Henry Classification System)System)

What is a fingerprint?What is a fingerprint?A fingerprint is an impression of

the friction ridges found on the inner surface of a finger or a thumb.

…The science of fingerprinting constitutes the only unchangeable and infallible means of positive identification known to man.

Reasons why Reasons why fingerprintfingerprints are s are used for identification used for identification purposes:purposes:

1.)  Ridge patterns and the details in small areas of friction ridges are unique and never repeated.

2.)  Friction ridges develop on the fetus in their definitive form before birth.

3.)  Ridges are persistent throughout life except for permanent scarring.

4.)  Friction ridge patterns vary within limits which allow for classification.

These premises are supported by scientific research in areas such as biology, embryology, anatomy and histology to name a few.

The fourth premise is not really a fact relating to identification.  Fingerprint classification assists to narrow the search but is not part of the actual identification process.  Its importance is clear though if you consider the huge task you would be faced with if, after taking thousands and thousands of fingerprints,  you had no method to file and retrieve them.

In order to gain a more indepth understanding of the principles of fingerprint identification,  the identification specialist needs to have knowledge of the actual biological structure of friction skin and understand the stages of friction skin development on the fetus prior to birth and, the numerous factors that affect its growth.

(TRIVIA)(TRIVIA)Also, did you know that...Also, did you know that...

Identical twins have the same DNA configuration but they do not have identical friction ridge configuration. 

The ARCHThe ARCH

The Arch pattern is made up of ridges lying one above the other in a general arching formation.

The TENTED ARCHThe TENTED ARCH

The tented arch pattern consists of at least one upthrusting ridge, which tends to bisect superior ridges at right angles, more or less.

The LOOP (Ulnar or Radial)The LOOP (Ulnar or Radial)The loop pattern

consists of one or more free recurving ridges and one delta.

In order to distinguish between ulnar and radial loops you must:

1)  know from which hand the loop pattern comes from and;

2) place your hand palm side down over top of the impression and determine if the recurving ridges originate from the little finger side or the thumb side.

If the ridges flow in from the little finger side this would be an 'ulnar' loop.  If the ridges flow in from the thumb side this would be a 'radial' loop

The WHORLThe WHORL

The whorl pattern consists of one or more free recurving ridges and two points of delta.  When the line of the fingerprint disc is placed on the two points of delta, it will bisect at least one of the ridges belonging to the core group.

The TWINNED LOOPThe TWINNED LOOP

In the twinned loop pattern, the recurving ridges present two loop formations, separate and apart.  There are two points of delta.  The flows for the deltas originate from the same side of the pattern.

The CENTRAL POCKET LOOPThe CENTRAL POCKET LOOP

The central pocket loop pattern consists of one or more free recurving ridges and two points of delta.  When the line of the fingerprint disc is placed on the two points of delta, it will fail to bisect any of the ridges belonging to the core group.

The LATERAL POCKET LOOPThe LATERAL POCKET LOOP

In the lateral pocket loop pattern, the recurving ridges present two loop formations, separate and apart.  There are two points of delta.  The flows for the deltas originate from the same side of the pattern.

The COMPOSITEThe COMPOSITE

The composite pattern is composed of two or more different patterns, separate and apart exclusive of the arch.

The ACCIDENTALThe ACCIDENTAL

The accidental pattern will contain two points of delta.  One delta will be related to a recurve and the other will be related to an upthrust.

ReferenceReference::Henry Classification System

Automated Fingerprint

Identification System (A.F.I.S.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fingerprint

http://images.google.com.ph/images

http://ridgesandfurrows.homestead.com/fingerprint_patterns.html

THANK YOU…THANK YOU…

The END!