8 Basic Fingerprint patterns
3 General Classification of Fingerprints
1. Arches – 5% (60% plain and 40% tented)
2. Loops – 60% (94% ulnar and Radial 6%)
3. Whorls – 30 to 35% (plain 71%, Central pocket 13%, double loop 13% and
accidental 3%)
8 Basic Fingerprint pattern
1. Radial Loop
2. Ulnar Loop
3. Plain Whorl
4. Central Pocket Loop
5. Double Loop Whorl
6. Accidental Whorl
7. Plain Arch
8. Tented Arch
What is a Loop?
➔ it is a type of fingerprint pattern in which one or more of the ridges on either
side of the impression, recurve, touch or pass an imaginary line drawn from
delta to the core and terminate or tend to terminate on or toward the same
side of the impression from whence such ridge or ridges entered.
Essential of loop:
1. A sufficient recurve
2. A delta and a core
3. A ridge count across a looping ridge
Sufficient recurve – may be defined as that part of a recurving ridge
between the shoulder of a loop. It must be free of any appendages
abutting upon outside of the recurve at right angle.
Types of Loop
1. Radial loop – loop which flow in the direction of the radius bone
(towards the thumb)
2. Ulnar loop - loop which flow in the direction of the ulna bone (towards
the little finger)
What are Arches?
➔ Arch fingerprints have ridges that form a hill. Some arches look like they have
a pointed tent shape. Arches are the least common type of fingerprint. It has
no core and no delta or it may have core but has no delta/ delta with no core
Types of Arches
1. Plain Arches – the ridge enter on side of the impression and flow or tend to
flow out from the other with a rise of wave in the center.
2. Tented Arches – most of the ridges enter upon one side of the impression
and flow out upon the other side, as in the plain arches. It forms like a tent.
What is Whorls?
➔ The whorl is that type of pattern in which at least two deltas are present with a
recurve in front of each.
Types of whorls
1. Plain whorl
2. Central pocket loop whorl
3. Double loop whorl
4. Accidental Whorl
Plain Whorl
➔ The plain whorl has two deltas and at least one ridge making a complete
circuit, which may be a spiral, oval, circular, or any variant of circle.
➔ An imaginary line drawn between the two deltas must touch across at least
one of the recurving ridges within the inner pattern area.
Central Pocket Loop
➔ It consist of at least one recurving ridge, or an obstruction at the right angle to
the line of flow, with two deltas, between which, when an imaginary line is
drawn, no recurving ridge with the inner pattern area is cut or touched.
➔ It consist a whorl embedded in a loop formation. A line drawn between the
deltae will not intersect a circle.
Double loop whorl
➔ The double loop consist of two
separate and distinct sets of
shoulders and two deltas
Accidental whorl
Consist of a combination of two
different types of pattern, with the
exception of the plain arch, with two
or more deltas. It may be a
combination of loop and tented arch,
loop and whorl and central pocket
loop, or other such other
combinations, except plain arch.
