https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=qX6hFXHD
mk4
Fingerprints are developed in babies before they are born
Specifically, at 24 weeks.
Two most important things about fingerprints is that they are
Persistent and Unique!
Persistent – they are permanent throughout life. They grow with
you, but the print stays the same.
Unique – patterns and the details in small areas of friction ridges
are unique and never repeated.
Fingerprint patterns were not recognized as unique to every
individual until 1788 – almost 230 years ago!
Why is this discovery important?
Because since no one has identical sets of fingerprints, police
officers can use them to link a suspect to a crime.
Friction Ridges
The dark lines that form the
pattern.
Ridge ending
The end of a ridge.
Core
The center of a fingerprint
pattern.
Delta
Ridges that converge into a
triangle shape.
Bifurcation
▪ The area where the ridge
splits into two.
Although each
fingerprint is different,
the overall patterns can
be classified into one of
four types:
Arch
Tented Arch
Whorl
Loop
• Also known as a
plain arch.
• Is like a wave or a hill
• Ridge enters on one
side, rises in the
middle, and exits on
the opposite side
• No delta
• Similar to a plain
arch with the
exception that the
ridges in the center
form a definite
angle.
• Think of a tent with a
pole in the centre.
• Most common type of
fingerprint
• Ridge enters on one
side, goes up to form a
loop, then exits the
same side it entered
• Loop can curve to the
right or left.
• Has one delta
• Like a spiral
• Pattern circles around
like a whirl pool
• Has two deltas
• Detectives don’t use
this classification
anymore.
• Combination of
patterns
– Ex: whorl and arch
– Ex: loop and arch
– Ex: whorl and loop
• When you see the following fingerprint you
will do the assigned action:
• Arch - Jump on the spot.
• Tented Arch – make a triangle shape with
your arms.
• Whorl- Spin around on the spot.
• Loop- Do a silly face.
The fingerprints will no longer be color coded so
you have to pay close attention to the
fingerprint type.