FINGERPRINT

IDENTIFICATION
PRETEST

Directions: Read the

questions carefully. Select the
correct answer for each of the
following questions.
1. The scientific study of the
prints of the soles of the
feet?
a. Poroscopy
b. Podoscopy
c. Chiroscopy
d. Dactyloscopy
2. An impression design by
the first joint of the fingers
and thumb on smooth
surface through the media
of ink, sweat or any
substance capable of
producing visibility.
a. Dactyloscopy
b. Fingerprint
c. Latentprint
3. The science of fingerprint
identification.

a. Dactyloscopy
b. Dactylomancy
c. Dactylography

d. Dactylo-analysis
4. The word finger was
derived from what Latin
word?

a. Dermis
b. Digitus
c. Dactyl
d. Skopien
5. A system of identification
which was used earlier than
the fingerprint system,
made by measuring various
bony structure of human
body. Developed by
Alphonse Bertillion.
a. Portrait Parle

b. Tattoo
Learning Outcomes
At the end of this lesson, the
students will be able to:
Appraise the nature of
fingerprint and its allied sciences.
Compare the principles of
fingerprint identification.
Identify the of fingerprints
classification and ridge
characteristics.
Categorize the fingerprints
 NATURE OF
FINGERPRINTS

FINGERPRINT is a
composite of the ridge
outlines which appears on
the skin surface of the
bulbs on the inside of the
end of joints of the fingers,
Cont.
The ridges appearing
in a fingerprint are
commonly referred to as
papillary or frictional
ridges. The ridges have a
definite contour and
appear in definite
individual details by
 FINGERPRINT
CHARACTERISTICS AND
FORMATIONS
The Allied Sciences of Fingerprints
 Dactyloscopy – It is the practical
application of the science of fingerprints
identification of persons through
examination and comparison of
fingerprint. Taken from Greek words:
Dactyl – a finger and skopien – to
examine or study
 Chiroscopy – (Greek word “ Cheir” – a
hand, “Skopien” –to examine) study of
the prints of the palms of the hand.
CONT.
Poroscopy – (Greek word
“poros” – a pare, and “Skopien”
– to examine) study of the
arrangement of the sweat
pores.
Dactylography – is the
scientific study of fingerprint as a
means of identification.
Dactylomancy – is the scientific
study of fingerprint for purposes
TERMS TO BE PONDER

Polydactyl – born with more

than the regular number of
fingers.
Macrodactyl – enlarged
finger.
Microdactyl – reduced/small
finger.
Ectodactyl – missing finger
at birth.
Continuation…
Take Note:
Ridge – literally, the top of long hill.
Ridge Surface
a. Friction Ridges or ridges –
elevated portion/hill like/black-lines.
b. Furrows – depressed
portion/canal-like/ white space.
Ridgeoscopy – study of Ridges or
friction ridges.
Edgeoscopy – study of the sides of
the finger.
Continuation…

Sweat Pores – tiny/small

openings/ tiny white dots.
Sweat Duct – passage
way of sweat.
Sweat Glands – the
producer of sweat.
Cross section of a friction ridge
 What are the basic principles of
Fingerprint Science? (3 dogmatic
Principles)
Principle of Individuality – There are no
two fingerprints that are exactly alike unless
taken from the same finger.
(1:64,000,000,000 – Francis Galton).
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.
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.
 Can Fingerprint be destroyed?

John Dellinger, a notorious gangster and

a police character, attempted to erase his
fingerprints by burning them with acid but as
time went by the ridges were again restored to
their “natural” feature. The acid he applied
temporarily destroyed the epidermis of the
bulbs of his fingers but re occur later.
Locard and Witkowsji of Lyons, who
performed rather painful experiments on
themselves by burning their fingertips with
boiling water, hot oil and hot metal had shown
that after the healing of the epidermis (outer
CONT.

Robert James Pitts used

surgery to destroy his friction
ridges. Known as the Man
without fingerprint. Also
known by the name Roscoe
Pitts.
Can Fingerprints be
forged?

The authorities conducted

various experiments and
although they could almost
make an accurate
reproduction’s till there is no
case on record known or have
been written that forgery of
fingerprints has been a
complete success.
Some of the reasons why
Fingerprints is one of the most
Infallible Means of Personal
Identification
Fingerprints are already formed about
3 to 4 months of intra-uterine life
and will remain unchanged throughout
life until the final decomposition of the
body.
The pattern formation formed by the
papillary ridges contains peculiar
characteristics upon which a person
can always be identified by fingerprint
examiners.
CONT.
Almost every police and law
enforcement agencies throughout the
world accept, adopt and utilize the
fingerprint system as a means of
absolute identification of a person.
 The court and other authorities had
taken cognizance of its importance
and reliability as a means of
identification.
That fingerprint will speak for
itself as it shows the owner thereof in
ASSESSMEN
T
1. The scientific study of the prints
of the soles of the feet?

a. Poroscopy
b. Podoscopy
c. Chiroscopy
d. Dactyloscopy
2. The fingerprint of a person appears
on fetus between _________ after
conception.

a. 100-200 days
b. 100-120 days
c. 100-220 days
d. 100- 150 days
3. Is that appears as tiny black line
with white dots (called pores) in
an inked finger impression?

a. Sweat pores
b. Furrows
c. Ridges
d. Sweat duct
.
4. The principle in fingerprint study
that states that fingerprint cannot be
forged. Fingerprint is a reliable and a
positive means of identification.

a. Principle of infallibility
b. Principle of permanency
c. Principle of individuality
d. Law of multiplicity of evidence
5. An impression design by the first joint
of the fingers and thumb on smooth
surface through the media of ink, sweat
or any substance capable of producing
visibility.

a. Doctyloscopy
b. Fingerprint
c. Poroscopy
d. Chiroscopy
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY OF FINGERPRINT

The ultimate purpose

of fingerprints is to
provide the most
positive means of
personal and criminal
identification
1686-Professor Marcelo
HISTORICAL ACCOUNTS INVOLVING Malpighi,
FINGERPRINTS
an Italian anatomist (GRANDFATHER
OF DACTYLOSCOPY according to Dr.
Edmond Locard – “Father of
Poroscopy”), commented in his
writings on elevated ridges on the
fingertips and alluded to diverse
figures on palmar surfaces.
1856-Herman Welcker took the
prints of his own palm. In 1897, (forty
one years later) he printed the same
CONT.
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
CONT.
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
Sir William J. Herschel
 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”, (dtd 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 began observation which
led to the publication in 1882 of his book
“Fingerprints.” Galton’s studies established
 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.”
 1901-Sir Edward Richard Henry was
appointed assistant commissioner at Scotland
Yard. His system was so applicable that Henry
emerged as the “Father of Fingerprints,”
at least as the first man to successfully apply
fingerprints for identification. 1901-marked
the official introduction of fingerprinting for
Sir Edward Richard Henry
1900-Alphonse Bertillon’s
system of body
measurement had by this
time spread throughout the
world.
1914- fingerprint were
officially adopted in France,
replacing Bertillon age
What are the two main layers
of the Skin?

Outer scarf or Epidermis

Inner Scarf or Dermis

Stratum Corneum – outer of

epidermis
Stratum Mucosum – inner of
epidermis
Cont.
Take Note:

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
Damage to the epidermis alone does
not result to permanent ridge
destruction, whereas damage to the
dermis will result to permanent ridge
destruction
Cross section of a friction ridge
The Type Lines and
Pattern Area

A. Type Lines – Also known as

the skeleton of pattern are
two innermost ridges which
start parallel, diverge, and
surround or tend to surround
the pattern area. They serve
as basis boundaries of a
fingerprint pattern.
B. Pattern Area – It
is the part of a
fingerprint pattern in
which the core, delta
and ridges appear
encoded by the type
lines.
 RIDGE
CHARACTERISTICS
1. Ridge Ending - It is a
termination or ending of
ridge or ridges.
2. Bifurcating ridges – A
single ridge which splits into
two ridges forming a “Y” shape
formation or structure.
3. Dot or Series of Dots –
They are fragmentary
ridges formed like a dot or
dots.
4. 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. Also known as
Enclosure.
5. Hook or Spur – is where
the ridge path divides and
one branch comes to an
end or leg is shorter.
6. Converging Ridges – Two
or more lines forming an
angle, a ridge whose closed
end is angular and serves as
a point of convergence. The
meeting of two separate
ridges.
7. Diverging ridges – Two
ridges running side by side
and suddenly separating,
8. Recurving ridge – is a
ridge that curves back in the
direction in which it started.

9. Short Ridges – they are

fragmentary ridges formed by
short or series of short
ridges.

10. Ridge Bridge – This is a

11. Double Bifurcation – is a
bifurcation where one of the
ridge path bifurcates.
12. Trifurcation – is when two
bifurcation develop next to each
other on the same ridge, a
unique formation.

Trifurcation
13. 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.
14. Rod or Bar – is a single
ending ridge at the center of
a recurving ridge of a loop
pattern.
15. Up thrust - Is an ending
Image 2
ASSESSMEN
T
1. The person who discover the two main
layer of the friction skin (Epidermis and
Dermis) and to whom one of the thin
layer of the friction skin was named.

a. Herman Welcker
b. Marcelo Malpighi
c. Francis Galton
d. Dr. Henry Faulds
2. What is the main layer of the
epidermis, which covers the surface
on which ridges are visible?

a. Dermis
b. Stratum corneoum
c. Stratum mucusom
d. Sanguinal stratum
3. Friction skin may be damage
permanently when which of its
layer was damage?

a. Dermis
b. Dermal papillae
c. Epidermis
d. Generating layer
4. What is that spreading of two
ridges that previously running
side by side?

a. Bifurcation
b. Convergence
c. Divergence
d. Enclosure
5. What is that two innermost ridges
running parallel with each other and
diverging at a certain point surrounding
the pattern area?

a. Pattern Area
b. Divergence
c. Convergence
d. Type lines
 Core and Delta
The Core and Delta are the
focal point of fingerprint
patterns except in arch pattern.

Core- is a point on the ridge

formation usually located at the
center or heart of the pattern.
The Core is also known as Inner
Terminus.
Delta – is a point on the ridge
The rules in CORE
location
The core is placed upon or
within the innermost sufficient
recurve.
When the innermost sufficient
recurve contains ending ridges
or rod rising as high as the
shoulder of the loop further
from the delta. The exemption
CONT.
When the innermost sufficient
recurve contains an uneven number
of rods rising as high as the
shoulders, the core is placed upon
the end of the center rod whether it
touches the looping ridge or not.
When the innermost sufficient
recurve contains an even number of
rods rising as high as the shoulders,
the core is placed upon the end of
the further one of the two center
Take Note - Always
base on the
entrance of the
pattern in the
fingerprint.
The rule in DELTA
location

 A dot can be a delta when

there is no other
alternative.
Rules in Delta location
when there is a choice
between two or more Delta
The delta may be located at a
bifurcation which does open
towards the core.
When there is a choice between a
bifurcation and another type of
delta, equally close to the point of
divergence, the bifurcation is
selected.
When there is a series of bifurcation
CONT.
The delta may not be located in the
middle of the ridge running between
the type lines toward the cores but
at the nearer end only. The location
of the delta depends entirely upon
the point of origin of the ridge
between the type lines toward the
core.
If the ridge enters the pattern area
from the point below the divergent
Pattern Interpretation
Arches – 5%
Loops – 60%
Whorls – 35%

Take Note: According to

studies, the appearance of
arches is less followed by
whorls and the loops.
 Divisions of Fingerprint
Patterns

ARCHES LOOP WHORLS

Tented S Plain whorl
Plain Ulnar Central
Radia pocket loop
whorl
l Double loop
whorl
Accidental
RULES ON FINGERPRINT
PATTERNS

1. Radial Loop - “R” -

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
A Radial Loop
Pattern
2. Ulnar Loop 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
ULNAR LOOP
Take Note - A pattern to be a
loop must have the following
four (4) essential requisites:

It must have a core

It must have a delta
An imaginary line must
pass between the core and
the delta
It must have a ridge count
3. 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.
PLAIN ARCH
4. 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. This pattern possesses
formed in any of these three (3) way
formations, to wit:
1. One or several ridges in the
center of the form an up
thrust.
2. The ridge or ridges in the
center formed a well defined
angle.
3. The pattern may have two or
three or four essential
requisites of a loop
TENTED ARCH
PLAIN TENTED
ARCH ARCH
5. 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
THE PLAIN WHORLS

A B C
PLAIN WHORL
6. 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
CENTRAL POCKET LOOP WHORL
 CENTRAL POCKET
WHORLS

A B C
7. 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
Elements of Double
Loop Whorl

1. Two separate loop

formations
2. Two separate and distinct
set of shoulders
3. Two deltas
4. No ridge count necessary
for loop in a double loop
 DOUBLE LOOP WHORLS
A double loop whorl consists of
two separate and distinct loop
formations with two separate and
distinct shoulders and two deltas.

A B C
Double Loop Whorl
8. 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
ACCIDENTAL WHORL
ASSESSMEN
T
1. What type of a pattern consisting of two ore
more deltas, one or more ridge forming a
complete circuitry and when an imaginary
line is drawn from left delta to right delta it
touches or cross the circuiting ridge/s
considered as the most common type of
whorl.
a. Plain whorl
b. Central pocket loop whorl
c. Double loop whorl
d. Accidental whorl
2. What is the type of a pattern in
which the looping or slanting
ridges flows towards the little
finger?

a. Loop
b. Radial loop
c. Ulnar loop
d. Tented arch
3. The core and delta are also
termed as _____?

a. Inner terminus
b. Outer terminus
c. Focal point
d. Pattern area
4. What type of a pattern has two
deltas in which at least one ridges
makes a turn through one complete
circuit?

a. Arch
b. Accidental whorl
c. Loop
d. Whorl
5. In order for a pattern to be
considered as loop it should have
_______ridge count.

a. 1
b. At least 1
c. 2
d. 3
Ridge counting and
Ridge tracing

Ridge Counting – It refers

to the process of counting
the intervening ridges
that touch or cross an
imaginary line drawn
between the core and the
delta.
Rules in Ridge
Counting
1. Locate the exact points of the
Core and Delta.
2. Count all ridges which touch or
cross an imaginary line
between the Core and Delta.
Ridges to be included are:
a. Ridge island
b. Short ridge
c. Long ridge
CONT.

d. Abrupt ending ridge

e. Bifurcating ridge
f. Ridge enclosure

Note: These ridges must be

as thick as the other
surrounding ridges.
CONT.
3. Core and Delta are
excluded in counting
4. A white space must
intervene between the
delta and the first ridge
count.
5. Incipient ridges are never
counted or included.
CONT.
The following ridges are
given these ridge counts if
they come in contact with the
imaginary line.
1. Ridge island and dot is given
a count of one.
2. Short ridge is counted as on
ridge
3. Long ridge is counted as one
CONT.

5. A ridge that bifurcates

having the two arms
touching the imaginary line
is counted as two ridges.
 Ridge Tracing for
whorls
Ridge tracing is a process
of tracing the ridge that
originates from the left delta
flowing towards the right
delta or near that point and
determining the number of
intervening ridge between the
traced ridge and the right delta
to constitute the three
 Rules in Ridge
Tracing
1. Ridge Tracing always start
from the left delta
proceeding towards the right
delta or nearest to the point.
2. When the ridge being traced
ends abruptly as in ending
ridges drop down to the next
ridge below to continue the
 Symbols for Whorl as a
Result of Ridge Tracing
1. When the ridge being traced
from the left delta to the right
delta passes inside or in front of
the right delta and there are
THREE or more intervening
ridges between the traced ridge
and the right delta, the result of
the tracing is INNER and
represented by the capital I.
CONT.
2. When the ridge being traced
passes on either inside or
outside of the right delta and
there are TWO or LESS ridges
intervening between the traced
ridge and the right delta or it
actually meets the right delta,
the result of the tracing is
MEETING and is represented by
capital letter M. The symbol is
CONT.
3. When the ridge being traced
passes outside or below the
right delta and there are
THREE or MORE ridges
intervening between the
traced ridge and the right
delta, the result of the tracing
is OUTER and represented by
capital letter O. The symbol is
 REAL AND CHANCE
FINGERPRINT
IMPRESSIONS

 Real
Impressions - Impressions
of the finger bulbs with the
use of the printing ink on
the surface of the paper. Any
other coloring materials may
be used but less visible and
indelible.
CHANCE FINGERPRINT
IMPRESSIONS
 Chance Impressions -
These are fingerprints which are
imprinted by mere chance or
without any intention to produce
the print. Chance print may be:
Visible prints – impressions
made by chance and visible
without chemical treatment.
Are those made by fingers
smeared with colored substances
CONT.
Semi-visible or Plastic
impression – These are molded
or plastic impressions made by
chance on cellophane tapes or any
plastic materials. They are prints
made in plastic materials, such as
soap, melted candles, wax,
paraffin, putty, and others.
Invisible or Latent prints –
impressions which are visible
Methods of Producing Real
Impressions
1. Rolled Method– One made by
rolling the thumbs and
fingers. The subject must be
relaxed. (Keyword TIFO)
2. Plain Method– This requires
that the fingers be taken or
printed simultaneously, then
the thumbs without rolling.
Plain impressions are used as a
check upon the sequence and
 STEPS IN TAKING
FINGERPRINTS
The first and most important step
is clear the plate thoroughly.
A daub of printer’s ink is
deposited near the edge of the
plate away from the operator.
The subject’s hand and fingers
must be relaxed.
Equipment Used in Preparation
for Taking Fingerprint using
Slab and Roller Method

1. INKING PLATE – A 12 inches

plate is long enough for most set
of 0 fingers. The width of the
plate should not be less than 8
inches, ten (10) is a better width.
A 10 inch plate is also wide
enough to ink a complete palm in
one operation whenever it
CONT.
2. CARD HOLDER – The simplest
is a U-shaped spring clamp.
Made of spring steel, stainless
steel or brass of gauge sufficient
to hold its shape in heavy usage.
3. ROLLER – 6 inches long, and 2
inches in diameter. The handle
should have supporting posts or
legs to suspend the rubber roller
from developing flat sides and to
CONT.

4. INK - black printers ink is the

most commonly used for taking
fingerprint impression. It is a
consistency suitable for rolling
into a thin film and it is quick
drying when transferred to a card
as an inked impression. Yet it
does not dry too fast. Usable for
several hours after a film has
been rolled.
CONT.
5. FINGERPRINT STAND – 32 inches
high, the inking surface of a
fingerprint stand should be
approximately 12 inches above the
top of an ordinary desk making the
printing surface approximately 44
inches from the floor for the average
person.
6. STANDARD EIGHT BY EIGHT
INCHES FINGERPRINT CARD – It is
found to be adequate for receiving
 METHODS OF
DEVELOPING LATENT
PRINTS
Powder Method – the suitable
materials for this technique
are glass, ceramic, pottery,
metallic item and plastic. The
principle involved in this
technique is that developing
reagent adhere to the sweat
present in the latent print with
a. Black Powder – this is
applied on white and
smooth surface.
b.White or Aluminum
powder – this is applied
on black and smooth
surface.
 These powders are
applied on the surface
Note:
1. Do not touch on the
suspected object or evidence
with bare hand. If you touch
with bare hands, your
fingerprint will be possibly
left or marked on the surface
of the object touched.
Carelessness on handling
evidence will destroy the
ASSESSMEN
T
1. Prints found at the scene of the
crime.

a. Suspected prints
b. Molded prints
c. Latent prints
d. Prints made by contamination with
colored substance.
2. What is the purpose of getting the
plain impression of the subject?

a. For classification purposes

b. For verification purposes
c. To check the order of the rolled
impression
d. For comparison purposes
3. In ridge tracing, 3 or more ridges
above the right delta is considered
as whorl type of pattern with_____.

A. Inner Tracing

B. Meeting Tracing
C. Outer Tracing

D. IMO Tracing
4. Prints which were left in the
place accidentally or
unconsciously?

a. Chance prints
b. Fragmentary prints
c. Smudge prints
d. Latent prints
5. Prints made by blood, dust or
dirt or other coloring substances:

a. Visible prints
b. Invisible prints
c. Chance prints
d. Fragmentary prints
 THE
CLASSIFICATION
FORMULA
Division of the Classification
Formula

Classification refers to
the formula derived for the
complete set of ten
fingerprint patterns or the
arrangement of
fingerprint records intro
groups or subgroups for
filing purposes.
The classification formula is
composed of the following
divisions:

Primary classification - PC
Secondary classification - SC
Sub-secondary classification -
SSC
Final classification - FC
Major classification - MC
 Classification Formula

KC MC PC SC SCC FC
PRIMARY CLASSIFICATION
For the purpose of obtaining the
primary classification, numerical values
are assigned to each of the ten finger
spaces whenever a whorl appears; it
assumes the value of the space in which it
is found. Spaces in which types of patterns
other than whorls are present are
disregarded in computing the primary.
When no whorl appears in a set of
fingerprint, there can be no numerical
value; therefore the primary classification
becomes one-over-one. When all fingers
 Division of Patterns as to
Numerical Values
1. Patterns with numerical values
All Whorl Patterns: Plain Whorl,
Central Pocket Loop Whorl, Double
Loop Whorl, and Accidental Whorl.
2. Patterns without Numerical Values
Arches and Loop Patterns: Plain Arch,
Tented Arch, Radial and Ulnar Loop.
 Four Steps to attain the
Primary Classification
1. Pairing. The ten fingerprints from the
corresponding fingers are divided into
pairs, totaling 5 pairs in all. The first
pair is composed of the thumb and the
right index finger (blocks 1 and 2). The
second pair is composed of right middle
finger and right ring finger (blocks 3
and 4). The third pair is composed of
the right little finger and the left thumb
(blocks 5 and 6). The fourth pair is
composed of the left index finger and
2. Assigning numerical values
to whorl patterns only. These
numerical values assigned to the
corresponding fingers are
permanent. Whorls appearing in
the first pair have a numerical
value of 16 each whorl. Whorls
appearing in the second pair
have a numerical value of 8 for
each whorl. Whorls appearing in
the third pair have a numerical
value of 4 for each whorl. Whorls
3. Knowing the
numerators and
denominators in the
pairs. The first pattern of
every pair is the
denominators while the
second patterns of the pair
is the numerators. There
are five numerators and
4. Summing up the numerical
values of whorls assigned to the
fingers plus the pre-established
fraction 1/1. To determine the exact
result of the primary classification,
get the total value of all the
numerators add one (1). For the total
value of the denominators also add
one (1). The arbitrary one being
always added to the numerators as
well as to the denominators
represents to the pre-established
fraction of 1/1 for in the absence of a
Take Note: After getting
the Primary Classification,
you must file the
fingerprint in the following
manner:

1/1 - Lowest
Classification
32/32 - Highest
 Rules on Amputation and
Fingerprint Missing at Birth

If one finger is amputated (AMP)

or missing at birth (FMB) the
classification is based on the
opposite finger with the numerical
value.
Take Note: The numerical value of
the (AMP) FMB) must not be
changed.
If both fingers are amputated or
 Secondary Classification
A. Capital Letter Group. The
secondary classification is
symbolized by capital letters
of the patterns represented by
two index finger after the
primary classification in the
classification line. The
fingerprint pattern appearing
on the right index finger
Basic Types of Pattern that
can Appear

Arch (A)
Tented Arch (T)
Radial loop (R)
Ulnar loop (U)
Whorl (W)
Central Pocket Loop Whorl (C)
Double Loop Whorl (D)

B. Small Letter Group. This
classification refers to the three
types of fingerprint patter only;
namely the plain arch, tented
arch and radial loop. Whenever
any or all of these patterns appear in
any finger or fingers, its symbol in
small letter is exhibited in the
classification line as: a for plain arch,
t for tented arch or r for radial loop,
before and/or after secondary
classification by capital letters,
depending on the finger of origin.
 Sub-Secondary
Classification

Sub-Secondary – The
sub-secondary classification is
the grouping of prints
according to the ridge count
of loops and ridge tracing
on whorls type patterns
appearing on the index,
Cont.
Whenever loop patterns are
shown on the above
mentioned fingers, each
should be ridge counted and
result of each count in number
be displayed on the right
upper corner of the block
where found and later on
represented by a letter symbol
Recording Ridge Count – The
ridge count of the loops are
recorded as “I” (inner) and “O”
(outer).

Recording Whorl Tracing – The

whorl tracing are recorded as
follows:

INNER (I)
MEETING (M)
Established Number of
Ridge Counts
INDEX FINGERS:
One (1) to Nine (9) ridges ……………………… I
(Inner)
Ten (10) or more ridges ………………………… 0
(Outer)

MIDDLE FINGERS:
One (1) to Ten (10) ridges ……………………… I
(Inner)
Eleven (11) or more ridges ……………………... O
(Outer)
 For Whorl Tracing

Meeting (M) - 0, 1, 2, ridges

either from the left delta or
the right delta.
Outer (O) -3 or more ridges
below the right delta.
Inner (I) - 3 or more ridges
above the right delta.
 Final Classification
The final classification is the ridge
count on the loop (ulnar and radial)
appearing in the right little finger.
If that is not a loop, then the ridge
count of the loop on the left little
finger is used, in which case the count
is placed in the denominator of the
classification line. When neither little
finger is a loop, then the count of the
whorl type pattern on the right litter
finger is taken. When both little
fingers are other than loops an whorl
 Major
Classification
The major classification
represents only the thumb
of each hand. It is the
ridge count of the loop
and/or the tracing of the
whorl appearing in the
thumb of each hand (if
Ridge Count and Letter Symbols for
Loops
TABLE A
1. A ridge count of 1 to 11,
inclusive, is Small. It is
represented by capital letter S.
2. A ridge count of 12 to 16,
inclusive, is Medium. It is
represented by capital letter M.
3. A ridge count of 17 or more,
inclusive, is Large. It is
 TABLE B
To be applied only to the loop from the
right thumb when the ridge-count of the
loop from the left is 17 or more, making
it the LARGE (L).
1. A ridge count of 1 to 17,
inclusive, is Small. It is
represented by capital letter S.
2. A ridge count of 18 to 22,
inclusive, is Medium. It is
represented by capital letter M.
3. A ridge count of 23 or more,
inclusive, is Large. It is
Sequence for Loops - Since the loops
in the thumbs are indicated as small
(S), medium (M), and large (L), the
sequence is as follows:
NUMERATOR SML SML
SML
DENOMINATOR SSS SSS
SSS

Sequence for Whorls - For the whorls

in the thumbs indicated as Inner (I),
meeting (M), and outer (O), the
Key Classification
The key classification
represents the ridge
count of the right first
loop appearing in a set
of prints, beginning with
the thumb of the right hand
but excluding the little
 Little Fingers
Disregarded - The little
fingers are totally
disregarded in obtaining a
key classification, for they
are exclusively used in the
final classification.
Key no loops - Make ridge
count of whorl appearing in
the thumb of the right at the
extreme left delta. This may
be used as a key.

Key not possible - If the

entire set of prints is
composed of plain arches and
tented arches, the key cannot
ASSESSMEN
T
1. What patterns are included in
the secondary division in
deriving the small letter
category.

a. ulnar loop, plain arch and

tented arch
b. radial loop, ulnar and arch
c. radial, plain arch and tented
2. If both the right and left little
fingers are radial loop and
ridge counting is obtained,
what classification formula is
involved?

a. Major Classification

b. Key Classification
3. It is the ridge count of the
first loop pattern appearing
on the fingerprint card except
the two little fingers.

a. Primary classification

b. Secondary classification
c. Final Classification
4. If the ridge counting of a
loop in the Index finger is
eleven (11), what must be the
symbol for purposes of the
Sub-Secondary classification?

a. I
b. M
c. O
5. It is the ridge count of the
loop and/or the tracing of the
whorl appearing in the thumb
of each hand.

a. Major Classification

b. Key Classification
c. Final Classification
QUESTIONS?
& God Bless!