Chapter5

FINGERPRINT PATTTERNS
Fingerprints provide an extremelyreliable means ofidentis
The system is based on the fact that no two individuals hava n
ve the sa ation
finger, palm or footprints. These areas ofthe human bodv aren
by minute ridges frequently interrupted by endings or forks.covered
T
interruptions are knownas characteristics. Each person has a uni hese
different distribution of characteristics that develop in the
womb and
persist throughout life. They even remain unchanged
some timeater
death, making the recognition of corpses
prints made by the ridges of the epidermis.possible. Finger prints are
Fingerprints are the tiny ridges, whorls and
tip of each finger. They are formed valley patterns on the
from pressure on a
developing fingers in the womb. No two baby's tiny,
have the same
fingerprints-- people have been found to
finger balls form various they are totallyunique. The ridges on the
being classified. 'patterns' or 'designs' which
are capable or
a) Definition of a
pattern:
Whenever an interspace is
a
different system of left
between the bound
own, which will ridges,
have some
it is
fitted by a daries of
pattern'. shape and
characteristic shape small system of its
andndsystem of 1s
The various is called a
is
types of patterns called a
b)Arch: are:
FingerprniPatterns 63
in which the ridges run from one
in side to the
Datten
a pattern
Arch is a
in the center, making backward tum. There is
no
o t h e rs
tkohtly rising
,lightlyrisin

the appearance of a delta, no

when there is
het, delta, but
rdinarilynodel

ordinaudintervene between the delta and the core. It is then called

loop or a loop without count. An arch is also
a

h aDproximating
r c ha p p r o x i m a t i

atternless pattern.
a sa
known

B
A
Arches

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 64
Biometrics & Fingerprint

nalysis
Anol.

Features:
other
one side to the
Flows
from

than 90 degrees.
. N o angles of
less
recurve and exit the side here they
where they entered
No ridges that
that fail to follow the general flo.
Noupthrusting ridges
line
falls on a very nearly straight
Each apex
apices generally slopes down and tot
o leto
A line connecting
right.
c) Tented Arch:
near the middle mavyhave
In patterns ofarch type, the ridges
it were on bothsidesoe
sides
thofaspine
themselves as
arranging
upward thrust The ridges thus
The
towards which adjoining ridges converge.
oraxis
the appearance ofa tent and suchaa not
pattem is
verging give the pattern
known a s a Tented Arch.

Tented Arch B
FingerprintPatterns 65

Features
oth flow ofridgesfro one side to the other is interrupted

Arch forms
an angle of 90 degrees or less
Has an up thrusting ridge that does not follow the general flow
d)Loops:

A Loop
is a patterm in vhich one or more ridges enter on either
diagonal upward course, recurve, touch or pass an imagi-
ide. take a
between the delta and the core, and end or tend to
Side

nary
line drawn
end
toward the same side ofthe pattern; there is one delta and a core
one ndge count,
and at least

Fig.5.1 Loops
 yss

Features delta
and o n e
one c o r e
Only i.e it goes o u t +
ridge thatrecurves thessame
Has at least one
side it enters
s
must cross the imaginary lina
imaginary line
Atleast one recurving
ndge
the delta.
Irawn
the c o r e and
between
loop ise
radial. A
s said
subdivided into ulnar and to be
Loops are it slopes towards the uln e
ther it the b
according to whether
na ot
ulnar or radial, the thumb side d
and the ulna on t the litle
the radial being on
radialbone,
finger side.
towards the right in case of
In ulnar loops, the ridges slant
case of left hand
fingers fnght
towards the left in
handfingers and
the ridges slant towards the left in cace
In case ofradial loops, in case ofleft hand finoem
hand fingers and
towards the right s
right
same side as the little finger and the radiol
on the
The ulnar loop is
side as the thumb.
loop is on the
same

sub-divided into three types accordingt

The loops are further

their formation:

Invaded loop:
the appearance as though a series
This is a loop which presents from the delta side
over the pattern, coming
ofridges are swarming
from above.
and threatening to engulfit

Fig.5.2 Invaded loop

Fingerprint
Patterns
67

Crested loop:
loop in
in which
which tthe ridges swarmingover the pattern are
a loop
This is line which they cannot pass or are swept in the cur
ialong a
stoppeda

the appearance ofa crest above the pat-

of
ormal ridges giving
ent
t e r na r e a .

Nutantloop/Indent Loop:
When the loop has the appearance ofa sickle or a drooping flower,

itisknown
as a nutant loop,also known as an Indented loop.

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Fig.5.3 Nutant Loops

e)Whorl:
Awhorl is a pattern in which one or more ridges fom a series of
circles or spirals around the core, the circling ridges should make at
leastonc complete circuit and there must be two deltas also. Whorls
canbe single cored, double cored, elliptical, spiral or almond shaped.
Feature:
Have two or more deltas with a recurving ridge in front of
each.
Structure is cireular, elliptical, spiral etc.
Ihe imaginary line drawn should cut at least one recurving
ridge.
68
Biometrics &Fingerpr
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gerprint Ana

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A
B

Whorls

ww 2

C D
FingerprintPatterns
erns

69
n Composite:

print occurs hen combinations of

ite
A c o m p o s i t e

the Arch,
are ound in the same Loop
Oop
a n dW h
patterns print. It is
define
combinationof differentpatterns.Examples of composite
combina
printsasarea
Central Pockets, Lateral ockets, Twinned Loops and Accidentals.
CentralPocket loop:
Inpatterns floop type,the ridges immediately about the core
deviate in course from the general course of other ridges, makinga
the center
pocketat
conditions are:
Theessential
one looping ridge,
(al There should be at least
b) The recurve
about the core should be at right angles to the
line ofexit ofthe looping ridges.
should not cut any of the recurving
(c) Line joining the deltas
ridges,
be more than five recurving ridges.
(d) There should not
whorls: These are of two types
Double loops Pocket
Features:
Combines two distinct loop patterns

Two deltas and two cores

abutment
connected to a delta by an
Recurves cannot be

gitute
niom ed
 70
Biometrics & ngerprin
int Analyss

Central Pocket

birag
ote
D
C

(a) Lateral pocket loop:

When the ridges constituting the
side before recurving, loop bend sharply on one
thereby forming that
on
pocket usually filled by the ridges of another side an interspace or
loop, such an impression
FingerprintPatterns

termed a lateral pocket loop. 71

s

B
Lateral Pocket

D
C

F
E
 Biometrics &Fingerprint
72
(b) Twinned loop: Analbyis
Aprint which clearly
consists
oftwo well definec
twin S
the other, is defined as a ed loop.
orencircling
rounding
loop, the ridges containing the n

In lateral pocket
delta,
either while in
mts of core
on the
same side of twj
have their exits ofcore have theirexjts oonddiffeten
containing the points exits
the ridges
deltas.
sides ofeither

Twinned Lo0op
F i n g e r p r n t
P a t t

erns
e r n s

73
Accidentals:
dentals are combinations of two or more patterns too
outline to be grouped in any other pattern. An arch with
o u t l i n e to
iregular.in

is
included in this group.
also
ket

B
A
Accidentals

gonbr
D

d CIai

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 Biometrics & Fingerprint Anal.
72 alysi,
(b) Twinned loop:
well defined loopS Ona
ne sur
A print which clearly consists oftwo
the other, is defined as a twinned loop.
roundingor encircling
containing the points of
loop, the ridges
In lateral pocket
have their exits on the same side of either delta,
fcore
while in twinna.

the points of core have their exits ondite

the ridges containing
sides ofeitherdeltas.
ditfereny

Twimed Loop
 nt Patterns
FingerprinPAatter

73
Accidentas

cidentals are combinations of two or more

patterns
iregularin outline to be groupedi any other pattern. An too
arch with
include in this gro
Ock
is also
pocket

B
A
Accidentals

d Ca

F
E g0iod,àba