PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION

CRIMINALISTICS

-This is the application of the principles of various sciences in solving problems in connection with the
administration of justice.

- Also referred to as Forensic Science or Police Science.

-The word forensic was derived from the Latin word “Forum” which means a “market place”, a place
where people gathered for “public discussion”. When it is used in conjunction with other sciences it
simply connotes the idea of application to law or for the administration of justice. Sometimes it is also
referred to as “legal”.

Edmond Locard - Sherlock Holmes of France, Father of Forensics, Father of Poroscopy

HISTORY OF FINGERPRINT

-In China, fingerprint is called “Hua Chi”. The value of fingerprints for purposes of identification was
found on a Chinese clay seal made not later than the 3rd century B.C.

-In Japan, deeds, dotes, and certificates to be used as proofs were sealed by the mark of the hand (Palm-
print) called “Tegata.” In the treatment of criminals, the imprint of the thumb (bo-in or bo-an) was
taken. The criminal signed only by thumb-print with regard to his sentence and it was considered as an
inferior sort of signature.

-1684-Nehemiah Grew published a report which was read before the royal society of London, England.
He described the ridges and pores of the hands and feet.

-1686, Marcello Malpighi, Grandfather of Dactyloscopy, a professor of anatomy at the University of

Bologna, he originated the term “loops and spirals.” He depicted a layer of skin, the epidermis and
dermis, later on was named after him; “Malpighian” layer, which is approximately 1.8mm thick

-Alphonse Bertillon- Father of personal identification. (mugshot photography)

-Dr. Paul Kirk- Father of Criminalistics in the U.S

-Mary K. Holland – the first American Instructress in Dactyloscopy.

-1788, J.C. Mayer, stated in his book (Anatomische Kupfertafein Nebst Dazu Geharigen) that the skin
ridges is never duplicated in two persons, nevertheless, the similarities are closer among the some
individuals.

-1823-Johannes Evangelist Purkinje, (FATHER OF DACTYLOCOSPY) a Czechoslovakian professor of

anatomy at the University of Breslau, published a thesis in Latin (Commentio de Examine Physiogico
Organi Visus Et systematis Cutansi – A Commentary of the Physiological Examination System: Dec. 22,
1823, Breslau, Germany) describing the ridges, giving them names and established certain rules for
classification (nine groups). He involves vague differentiation of fingerprints or use them for
identification.

-1856-Herman Welcker took the prints of his own palm. In 1897, (forty one years later) he printed the
same palm to prove that the prints do not change. (Principle of Permanency).

-1858-Sir William J. Herschel (FATHER OF CHIROSCOPY), in Hoogly, district of Bengal, India, he used
fingerprints in India to prevent fraudulent collection of army pay account and for identification of other
documents. He printed the palms of natives in order to avoid impersonation among laborers. Prints of
the entire palms were used instead of signatures. The first person Herschel printed appears to have
been one RAJYADHAR KONAI.

-1880-Dr. Henry Faulds, an English (Scottish) doctor stationed in Tokyo, Japan, wrote a letter to the
English publication, “NATURE” – “On the Skin Furrows of the Hand”, (Oct. 28, 1880) on the practical use
of fingerprints for the identification of criminals. He recommended the use of a thin film of printers ink
as a transfer medium and is generally used today.

-1880-Sir Francis Galton, a noted British anthropologist and a cousin of scientist Charles Darwin, the first
scientist on identification began observation which led to the publication in 1882 of his book
“Fingerprints.” Galton’s studies established the individuality of classifying fingerprint patterns. He said
that the possibility of two prints being alike was 1:64Billion

-1882-Gilbert Thompson, a U.S. geological surveyor in charge of a field project in New Mexico used his
own fingerprints in commissary orders to prevent forgery.

- Isaiah West Taber – A photographer in San Francisco advocated the use of the system for the
registration of the immigrant Chinese.
-1883-An episode in Mark Twain’s life on the Mississippi relates to the identification of a murderer by his
thumbprint.

- Mark Twain (Samuel L. Clemens life) further developed his theme. Eleven (11) years later, he causes
the publication of “Puddin Head Wilson”, a novel based on dramatic fingerprint identification
demonstrated during a court trial. His story pointed out the infallibility of fingerprint identification.
-1888-Sir Edward Richard Henry, succeeded Sir William J. Herschel at his post in India. He became
interested in fingerprints and devised a classification of his own and published his work in book form
and titled it “Classification and Uses of Fingerprints.” Which was adopted in England and Wales.
“Father of Fingerprints”.

-1882-Gilbert Thompson of the US Geodetic survey used thumb print for camp orders on an expedition
to New Mexico. This was not official but it was proven useful (the record was dated Aug. 8, 1882)

-1902-Sir Henry P. Forest, chief Medical examiner of New York Civil Service Commission and an
American preacher in fingerprint science in the US for the New York Civil Service commission to prevent
applicants from having better-qualified persons to take the test for them.

-1891, Juan Vucetich, an Argentine Police Official, began the first fingerprint files based on Galton
pattern types. At first, Vucetich included the Bertillon system with the files. Juan Vucetich made the first
criminal fingerprint identification in 1892. He was able to identify Francis Rojas, a woman who murdered
her two sons and cut her own throat in an attempt to place blame on another. Her bloody print was left
on a door post, proving her identity as the murderer. The Vucetich System was being used by Spanish
speaking countries.

-1901, First official use of fingerprints in the USA by the New York City Service Commission.

-1930, national fingerprint file was set up in America by the FBI.

Will West & William West

A story in early 20th century, a man was spotted in the Kansas by a guard who recognized him and
thought he was already in the prison population. Upon examination, the incoming prisoner claimed to
be named Will West, while the existing prisoner was named William West. According to their Bertillon
measurements, they were essentially indistinguishable. Only their fingerprints could readily identify
them, and the Bertillon Method was discredited.

Figure 1.1 West Brothers

- People vs. Jennings, Dec 21, 1911, United States leading case wherein the first conviction based on
fingerprint was recognized by the judicial authorities. (14 points) it was the first judicial ruling on
evidence which admitted fingerprint evidence. (Illinois Court)

HISTORY OF FINGERPRINT IN THE PHILIPPINES

1900-Mr. Jones was the first to teach fingerprints in the Philippines in the Phil. Constabulary.

-1918 – The Bureau of Prisons records show that carpetas (commitment and conviction records) already
bear fingerprints.
Under the management of Lt. Asa N. Darby during the American occupation in the Philippines, a modern
and complete fingerprint file has been established for the Philippine Commonwealth.

1937-The first Filipino fingerprint technician employed by the Phil. Constabulary was Mr. Generoso
Reyes. Capt. Thomas Dugan of New York City Police Department and Mr. Flaviano C. Guerrero of the
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) gave the first examinations in fingerprints.

-1933-The first conviction based on fingerprints was handed by the Supreme Court of the Phil. in the
case People vs. Medina and this case is considered the leading judicial decision in the Philippine
jurisprudence concerning fingerprinting (December 23).

- The science of fingerprinting was first offered as a subject in the Philippines through the effort of the
Plaridel Educational Institution.

Isabela Bernales – First Filipina FP technician

CAPT THOMAS DUGAN – New York Police Department and Flaviano Guererro, FBI Washington gave the
first examination in FP in 1927 and AGUSTIN PATRICIO of the Philippines topped in the examination.

Lucila Lalu – the first Filipina Chop-chop lady who was identified through fingerprint.

3 DOGMATIC PRINCIPLES OF FINGERPRINT

1.Principle of Individuality (Variation) – There are no two fingerprints that are exactly alike unless taken
from the same finger.
2.Principle of Permanency (Constancy/Perennial/Immutable) – The configuration and details of
individual ridges remain constant and unchanging till after the final decomposition of the body.
3.Principle of Infallibility – That fingerprint is a reliable means of personal identification and all courts
accept and adopt fingerprint as a means of personal identification.

2 layers of the skin: Dermis(inner) Epidermis (outer)

Take Note:
1.Stratum Malpighi or the layer of the Malpighi – the ridges are formed into patterns by virtue of the
fact that the epidermis is penetrated and molded by the dermal papillae
2.Damage to the epidermis alone does not result to permanent ridge destruction, whereas damage to
the dermis will result to permanent ridge destruction
3.We can identify many fingerprints which we cannot classify.

Figure 1.2 Layers of the skin

IMPORTANT TERMS TO REMEMBER

Dactyloscopy – is a science that deals with the study of interpretation, classification of FP, identification
of pattern of FP classification formula. In Greek words, “Daktylos or Daktyl” means finger and “Skopien”
means to study or examine.In Latin Dactylus or dactyl = finger.

Dactylography – refers the scientific study of fingerprints as a means of identification. This includes FP
comparison and case presentation in courts.

Dactylomancy – is the scientific study of fingerprint for purposes of personality interpretation.

Subject – This pertain to a person to be fingerprinted.

Fingerprint Technician – it refers to a person who has skills and knowledge to take fingerprint
impression and to process fingerprint

Dermatoglyphics - is the science which deals with the study of skin pattern. It is derived from two Greek
words, Derma which means Skin and Glyphe which means Carve. (Harold Cummins- father of
dermatoglyphics)

Polydactyly – this refers to a person having more than required number of fingers.

Types of Polydactyly:
1. Postaxial (little finger)
2. Preaxial (thumb), and
Central (ring, middle, index fingers)
Macrodactyl– having enlarge fingers.
Microdactyl – having small fingers.
Ectodactyl – born with missing finger.
Syndactyl – side fusion of the fingers.
Ankylosis- the inability to bend the fingers

Poroscopy – In Greek word “poros” which means pores or holes. This refer to scientific study of pores or
small opening found on the surface of the skin.Edmond Locard – Father of poroscopy

Chiroscopy- in Greek word “cheir” means hand. This refers to branch of science which deals with the
study of the palm of the hand.

Podoscopy- in Greek word “podos” means foot. It focuses on the study of the soles of the feet.Coined
by Wilder and Wentworth.

Edgeoscopy – The study of the morphological characteristics of friction ridges; shape or contour of the
edges of friction ridges. Devised by Salil Chatterjee

Ridgeoscopy – Study of Ridges.

Palmistry or Chiromancy – in Greek “cheir” means hand; “mateia,” means divination, is the art of
foretelling the future through the study of the palm, also known as palm reading or chirology.

Visible Fingerprints – are those impressions which are visible to the naked eye, which include those
impressed at an angle and those impressed solidly (molded impression). Visible fingerprints are often
impressed by dust, blood or oil and grease, or impressed on dust, or oil and grease.

Latent Fingerprints – Latent means “something hidden.” Latent fingerprints can be seen with the aid of
special lights, while others require some method of development in order to make them visible like
dusting method.(Usually found at the crime scene)

Chance prints – prints left on a place unconsciously or accidentally.

Smudge prints – prints made by sliding motion of the finger.

Fragmentary prints- partial prints impression.

TYPES OF FINGERPRINT IMPRESSION

1. Rolled impression - are fingerprint impression taken individually by rolling each finger from one side
to the other side and from the tip to the end of the first joint.
THUMB FINGERS– Rolled towards the body
INDEX, MIDDLE, RING, LITTLE FINGERS– Rolled away from the body.
2. Plain impression – are impression made by simultaneously pressing the finger to the card, use as a
reference to classification.
3. Palm Impression – It is a plain impression of the palm.

Figure 1.3 FP CARD with plain

and rolled impressions

WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF RIDGE CHARACTERISTICS/ MINUTIAE/GALTON’S DETAILS

1.Recurving ridge – is a ridge that curves back in the direction in which it started.
2.Converging Ridges – Two or more lines forming an angle, a ridge whose closed end is angular and
serves as a point of convergence.
3.Diverging ridges – Two ridges running side by side and suddenly separating, one ridge going one way
and the other ridge, another way.
4.Bifurcating ridges – A single ridge which splits into two ridges forming a “Y” shape formation or
structure.
5.Island, Eyelet, lake or Eye – it is a single ridge which bifurcates where the bifurcating ridges converge
at a certain point to form again into a single ridge.
6.Dot or Series of Dots – They are fragmentary ridges formed like a dot or dots.
7.Short or Series of Short Ridges – they are fragmentary ridges formed by short or series of short ridges.
8.Ridge Ending - It is a termination or ending of ridge or ridges.
9.Fragmentary Ridges – They consist of disconnected sequences of short ridges embodied intensely.
These ridges are considered in the classification of fingerprints if they appear as dark and as thick as the
surrounded ridges within the pattern area.
10.Ridge Hook – It is a ridge that divides to form two ridges which are shorter in length than the main
ridge.
11.Ridge Bridge – This is a connecting ridge between two ridges.
12.Incipient or Nascent Ridge – This is a kind of ridge which is madly formed, thin, short or broken which
appears in the depressions between two well-formed ridges.
13.Sufficient Recurve – The space between shoulders of a loop, free of any appendage, and a butting at
right angle.
14.Appendage – A short ridge at the top or summit of a recurve usually at right angle.
15.Core – It is a point on a ridge formation usually located at the center or heart of a pattern.
16.Delta or Triradial Point – It a point on the first ridge formation at or directly in front or near the
center of the divergence of the type lines.
17.Envelop – Is a single recurving ridge enclosing one or more rods or bars.
18.Friction ridges – Are strips of skin on the inside of the end joints of our fingers and thumbs by which
fingerprints are made. They are also called papillary ridges or epidermal ridges.
19.Furrows – Are depressions or canals between the ridges which maybe compared with the low area in
a tire tread.
20. Rod or Bar – is a single ending ridge at the center of a recurving ridgeof a loop pattern.
21.Up thrust - Is an ending ridge of any length rising at a sufficient degree from a horizontal place.
22.Dissociated ridges – are unusual ridge structures having no well-defined patterns; the ridges are
extremely short, appear like a series of “patches” caused by a disturbance of developmental process at
early fetal life of the individuals.
23.Shoulder of a loop – It is that point at which the recurving ridge definitely turns or curves.
24.Puckering – As growth ceases at several ends, the ends curl slightly.
25.Creases – Are thin, usually straight narrow white lines running transversely or formed side to side,
across the print, causing the puckering of the ridges.
26.Staple – Single recurving ridge at the center of the pattern area.
27.Spike – an ending ridge at the center of a pattern which forms the up thrust.

Chance prints – prints left on a place unconsciously or accidentally.

Smudge prints – prints made by sliding motion of the finger.
Fragmentary prints- partial prints impression.
Figure 1.4 Fingerprint Patterns and Ridge Characteristics

Instruments used for developing latent prints:

1. Fingerprint powder
2. Fingerprint brush
3.Latent Print Transfer Card – used to preserve developed latent prints.
4. Fingerprint Strip Holder – used to hold card for post mortem fingerprint.
5. Magnifying lens

METHODS OF DEVELOPING LATENT FINGERPRINTS

1. Dusting method – most common in developing latent fingerprints. (Used of powder and brush)
2.Rolling method – used in developing fingerprints in paper by rolling the paper with powder spreading
in its surface.
3. Fuming methods – done by using chemical fumes such as Iodine and Ammonium Fumes.
4. Silver Nitrate Method- done by spraying a 5% solution of silver nitrate to the surface of the paper.
(Swabbing, Immersion and spraying) Violent to reddish pink.
5. Ninhydrin Method – is considered as one of the best method used in developing prints in paper.
6. Laser Ion argon – modern method (Hologram)
7. Victoria Blue – used in plastics by spraying.

Figure 1.5 Developed Latent Fingerprints

Ridges – are tiny elevation or hill like structure found on the epidermis layer of the skin containing sweat
pores. It appears as black lines in an ink impression.

Ridge Formation – Ridge starts to form in the fingers and thumb the 3rd to 4 months of the fetus life and
already formed (6 months of fetus life)

Ridge Destruction – destruction of the friction skin can either be temporary or permanent. Note:
damage of 1mm deep permanently damages the pattern

Temporary destruction/deformities – occur when only the epidermis layer (outer layer of the skin) of
the friction skin has been damage due to occupation such as chemical workers, laborers/cement mixers,
and assembly workers in electrical appliance plant. (These type of jobs may weaken the fingerprint
impression)
Friction skin- is an epidermal hairless skin found on the ventral or lower surface of the hands and feet
covered with ridges and furrows. It is also called papillary skin.

Sweat Pores – is a small opening found anywhere across the ridge surface but is usually found near the
center.

Sweat Duct- is a long hose like structure that serves as the passage way for the sweat that exists at its
mouth, the pore.

Sweat Gland – Responsible for the production of the sweat.

John Dillinger – a notorious gangster and most publicized attempt at removal of fingerprints. He
attempted to destroy his own fingerprints by applying a corrosive acid to them.

Robert James Pitts- The man without fingerprints. After he committed burglary in Charlotte, North
Carolina he went to Newark, New Jersey to visit a doctor who wanted to experiment with the alteration
of fingerprints. The skin was removed from the distal phalange of each finger, down to the regenerative
dermal layer, and the fingers were then sewn into incisions made on each side of Pitt’s chest. This was
an attempt to graft chest skin onto the fingertips.

Figure 1.6 Phalanges

Phalange – is the skeletal finger covered with the friction skin. It is made up of three bones.
1. Terminal/distal Phalange – this refers to a bone found in the finger’s tip, covered by friction skin and
containing fingerprint pattern.
2. Middle/intermediate phalange – the next and above the basal bone.
3. Basal or proximal phalange – It is located at the base of the finger nearest the palm.

Plain Arch - Symbolized by letter “A” in the classification. It is a fingerprint pattern in which the ridges
enter on one side of the pattern and flow towards the other side with a rise at the center with not more
than one of the four (4) essential requisites for loop pattern and with no recurving ridge, no angular
formation and no upward thrust.

Take Note - It enters to the left and flows towards the right

Tented Arches - Symbolized by letter “T” in the classification. It is a variety of arch family, but their ridge
formations are not simple as those of the plain arch, also considered TRANSITIONAL PATTERN between a
plain arch and a loop. Generally speaking, TENTED ARCHES are formed in any of these three (3) way
formations, to wit:

a. One or several ridges in the center of the form an up thrust.

b. The ridge or ridges in the center formed a well defined angle.
c. The pattern may have two or three or four essential requisites of a loop pattern
Radial Loop - “R” (/or \) - derived its name from the radius bone of the forearm; it is one type of
fingerprint patterns in which the ridges run its direction to the radius bone or to the thumb.

Ulnar Loop “u” (/ or \) is one type of fingerprint pattern in which the ridges flow toward the ulnar bone
or little finger. Ulnar loop therefore derived its name from the ulna bone of the forearm, or little finger.
Its symbol is letter “U” in classification purposes.

Take Note - A pattern to be a loop must have the following four (4) essential requisites:
a. It must have a core
b. It must have a delta
c. There must be recurving ridge that passes between the core and the delta.
d. It must have a ridge count of a minimum of at least one (1)

Plain Whorl - Symbolized by letter “W” in the classification. It is a fingerprint pattern which there are two
(2) deltas and in which at least one (1) ridge makes a turn through one complete circuit, an imaginary
line drawn between the two (2) deltas must touch or cross at least one (1) of the circuiting whorl ridges
within the pattern area.

Central Pocket Loop Whorl - Symbolized by letter “C “in the classification. It is a fingerprint pattern
which for the most part of a loop, but which has a small whorl inside the loop ridges, sometimes called a
composite pattern, which means that it is made up of two (2) patterns in one, a whorl inside a loop.
It has two (2) deltas, one of which appears as the edge of the pattern area, as in plain loop. And
one shows inside the pattern area just below the counterpart ridges.

Double Loop Whorl - Symbolized by letter “D” in the classification. A double loop whorl is a pattern
consisting of two (2) separate and distinct loop formations. One of the loops surrounds or overlaps the
other, also called COMPOSITE PATTERN, like the central pocket loop whorl. It arises from the fact that
these patterns are a composite or combination of two (2) patterns in one, with two cores and dtwo
deltas.

Accidental Whorl - Symbolized by letter “X” in the classification. It is a pattern which is a combination of
two or more different types of pattern except in the PLAIN ARCH. It can be a combination of a loop and a
whorl, a loop and a central pocket loop whorl, or any combination of two or more different loops and
whorl type patterns.

Figure 1.7 Fingerprint Patterns

Type lines – are two innermost ridges that run parallel or nearly parallel to each other, then diverge and
tend to surround the Pattern Area.

Pattern Area- is the part of a loop or whorl in which the core and delta or deltas appear and the ridges
which we are concerned in the classification process.
Delta (Outer Terminus) – is the first point on the first characteristics. Deltas can also be at a point upon a
ridges nearest the center. The word delta was a Greek origin, its literal meaning in English is a deposit of
earth at the mouth of a river.
They are located between two diverging Type lines and are located on or directly in front of their point
of divergence.

Types of Deltas:
1. Short ridge
2. Bifurcation
3. Ending ridge
4. Recurving ridge
5. Dot.
6. Meeting of two ridges

Rules in Choosing Delta

1. The delta may not be located at a bifurcation which does not open towards the core.
2. When there is a choice between a bifurcation and another type of delta, the bifurcation is selected.
3. When there are 2 or more possible deltas (except bifurcation) which can form to the definition of the
delta, the nearest to the core is selected as the delta.
4. The delta may not be located in the middle of a ridge running between the type lines toward the core,
but at the nearer end only.
5. If the ridges enter the pattern area below the divergence of the type lines, the delta must be located
at the end nearer to the core.
6. If there is a series of bifurcation opening towards the core at the point of divergence of the type lines,
the bifurcation nearest to the core is chosen as the delta.
7. When there is a ridge near the center of the type lines despite several bifurcating ridge opening
towards the core, the delta is located at the point of the first bifurcation just in front of the divergence
of the typelines.

.
Core – (Inner Terminus) is the approximate center of a loop or whorl. This is the second focal point if the
fingerprint impression

Figure 1.8 Core and Delta

Ridge Counting –the process of counting the ridges that touch or cross an imaginary line drawn between
the delta and core of a loop.

Rules in Ridge counting of a loop

1. Locate the exact core and delta before ridge counting.
2. The delta and core are not counted.
3. There must be a white space between a ridge to the next ridge.
4. Count all the ridges that cross or touch the imaginary line between the delta and core.

Give one ridge count for:

1. Ridge island or a dot
2. Short Ridge
3. Long Ridge or ending ridge
4. Abrupt ending ridge

Give two ridge counts for:

1. When the imaginary line touches or crosses a bifurcation.
2. Ridge enclosure or lake
3. Cross crossing or meeting of two ridges.

Ridge Tracing – in a Whorl type of fingerprint pattern is important in the classification formula. This can
be established by the basis of two focal points, that is, from Left Delta to Right Delta.

Basic Rules for Ridge Tracing in Whorl Fingerprint pattern are the following:
1. Tracing always starts from Left delta to the Right Delta.
2. An interrupted ridge can be traced from Left delta to the Right Delta.
3. When the tracing ridge suddenly ends, the tracing is continued on the ridge immediately below it.
4. A ridge must definitely end before the tracing may be continued on the ridge below it.
5. When the ridge bifurcates, the tracing is continued on the lower branch of the bifurcation.
6. When the delta is a dot, the tracing begins on the Type Line, which is the ridge immediately below the
“Delta.” This is the only time when the Type Line is used in a tracing line.

FINGERPRINT CLASSIFICATION
1. Checking- verifying the rolled impression using the plain as guide or reference.
2. Blocking out- is the process of placing under each pattern the letter symbols representing their
pattern interpretation prior to the actual classification formula.

PRIMARY CLASSIFICATION – it is the sum total of all numerical values of Whorls in a set of fingers plus (+)
the fraction of 1/1. For purposes of Primary Classification, the word Whorl means all types of whorls,
including Plain Whorl, Central Pocket Loop, Double Loop and Accidental Whorl.

First Pair -16 for right thumb and right index

Second Pair – 8 for the right middle and right ring
Third Pair – 4 for the right little and left thumb
Fourth Pair – 2 for the Left Index and Left Middle
Fifth Pair – 1 for Ring and Left Little

Numerator: even number fingers i.e. (2,4,6,8,10)

Denominator: odd number fingers i.e. (1,3,5,7,9)
SECONDARY CLASSIFICATIONS
1. Secondary Classification, of Index Fingers of both hands in CAPITAL LETTERS
This first kind of secondary classification represents all fingerprint patterns that appear in the INDEX
FINGERS of both hands, and is designated by the following Symbols:
1. Arch - A
2. Tented Arch – T
3. Radial Loop– R
4. Ulnar Loop – U
5. Whorl – W
6. Central Pocket Loop – C
7. Double Loop – D
8. Accidental – X

Small letter- derived from the thumb, middle and ring fingers. It only includes radial loop, plain arches
and tented arches. (rat)

Sub-Secondary Classification
Derived by ridge counting of loop and ridge tracing of whorl found at the index, middle and ring fingers
only

Ridge counting of loop

1. Index- 1-9 – Inner(I) 10 or more (O)
2. Middle finger- 1-10 (I) 11 or more (O)
3. Ring finger – 1-13 (I) 14 or more (O)

RIDGE TRACING OF WHORL

Inner(I)- when the tracing goes above or inside the right delta and there are three or more intervening
ridges.
Meeting (M)- when there are only two or less intervening ridges.
Outer (O)- when the tracing ridge goes below or outside the right delta and there are 3 or more
intervening ridges.
Plain arch and tented arch are always (-)

Major division- taken from the thumb fingers only.

1. whorl – ridge tracing= I, O, M
2. Loop- Ridge counting= S, M, L

Table 1 Table 2
1-11 = S 1-17 =S
12-16=M 18-22= M
17 or more=L 23 or more = L
Final Division – (derived from the little finger only)
1.loop and whorl are both subject to ridge counting.
Radial or Ulnar = the usual process.
Plain or Central pocket loop Whorl = will be treated as an
ulnar loop.
Double loop whorl = get the ridge count of the top loop.
Accidental Whorl = get the least ridge count.

2. Arch = dash (-)

Key Division -derived by getting the ridge count of first (|) loop except the little fingers. In the absence of
the loop, the first whorl will be ridge counted for the purpose.