International School of Asia and the Pacific 1

Subject: Dactyloscopy
REVIEW NOTES ON
PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION (DACTYLOSCOPY)

2.

China It was a common practice for the Chinese

to use ink fingerprints on official documents,
land
scales,
contracts,
loans
and
acknowledgements of debt. Finger seals for
sealing documents to prove its authenticity. Early
in the 12th century, in the novel, The Story of the
River Bank, fingerprint found itself already in the
criminal procedure of China; and in the 16th
century, a custom prevailed in connection with the
sale of children. Palm and sole impressions were
stamped of sale to prevent impersonation.

3.

Japan A Japanese Historian, Kamagusu Minakata

furthere commented about blood stamping.
Apparently, contracts were accompanied by a
written oath confirmed with a blood stamp. The
blood stamp was a print of the ring finger in blood
drawn from that digit.

4.

France The most famous ancient stone carvings

is found in the Llle de Gavrinis of the coast of
France. Here a burial chamber, or dolman, was
discovered dating back to Neolithis times. Its inner
walls are covered with incised designs- systems of
horse-shoe form, more or less circular
concentric figures, spiral, arching lines sinuous
and straight lines and other markings occurring
in various combinations. Many anthropologists
interpret these lines as representing finger or
palm print patterns.

5.

Nova Scotia An outline of a hand was scratched

into slate rock beside Kejiomkujil Lake by an
aboriginal Indian. The carving is an outline of a hand
and fingers. Within the outline the flexion creases of
the palm and fingers are depicted. This carving
has considerable historical significance. Although it
does not demonstrate knowledge of the individuality
of friction ridges or palmar flexion creases, it
clearly illustrates an early awareness of the
presence of those formations.
Babylonia - References by ancient historians have
been found describing how finger seals were used
on legal contracts from 1855-1913 B.C. This
practice identified the author and protected
against forgery.

DEFINITION OF TERMS:
1.

2.

3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Fingerprint An impression of the friction ridges of

all or any part of the finger. A friction ridge is a
raised portion of the epidermis on the palmar (palm
and fingers) or plantar (sole and toes) skin,
consisting of one or more connected ridge units of
friction ridge skin. These ridges are sometimes
known as "dermal ridges" or "dermal papillae".
Dactyloscopy is the practical application of
fingerprints or the process of identification by
fingerprint comparison and the classification of
fingerprints.
Dactylography is the scientific study of
fingerprints as a means of identification.
Poroscopy the scientific study of pores or science
of identification by means of the pores.
Podoscopy - the science of identification through
friction ridge characteristics existing on the sole of
the human foot.
Chiroscopy the science of identification through
friction ridge characteristics existing on palms.
Ridgeology the study of poroscopy, edgeoscopy,
and ridge characteristics for the purpose of the
positive identification of fingerprints.
Edgeoscopy the study of the characteristics
formed by the sides or edges of papillary ridges as a
means of identification.

Dogmatic Principle of Fingerprint

1.
2.
3.

Principle of Individuality no two fingerprints are

exactly alike
Principle of Permanency configuration and
details of individual ridges remain constant and
unchanging.
Principle of Infallibility fingerprint is the most
reliable means of identification.
6.

Fingerprints in other species

The Koala is one of the few mammals (other
than primates) that have fingerprints. In fact, koala
fingerprints are remarkably similar to human fingerprints;
even with an electron microscope, it can be quite difficult
to distinguish between the two.

7.

Palestine William Frederick Bade, Director of the

Palestine Institute of Archeology, conducted
excavations at various sites in Palestine and at one
place found finger imprints on many pieces of
broken pottery. These identifications permitted
the confuse debris to dated accurately to the fourth
century A.D. Commenting on his case, Fingerprint
magazine (1973) stated that these impression were
obviously intentional and no doubt, represented the
workmans individual trade mark.

8.

Holland and Ancient China Identification of

individuals was by means of branding, tattooing,
mutilation and also manifested by wearing of
cloths of different designs.

History and Development

A.

Primitive Knowledge

1.

Egypt The earliest evidence of ridge detail on the

hands and feet of humans was seen in the 4,000
year old mummies of ancient Egypt. The hands and
feet of mummies have been examined on numerous
occasions and they confirmed the presence of
ridge detail on the mummies digits.

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International School of Asia and the Pacific 2

Subject: Dactyloscopy
B.

PERSONALITIES

1.

Constantinople In treaty ratification, the

sultan soaked hi hand in a sheeps blood and
impressed in on the document as his seal.

2.

Thomas Bewick (1753-1828) A British author,

naturalist and engraver became Englands finest
engraver who made fingerprint stamps. He made
wooden engravings of fingerprints and published
their images in his books where he used an
engraving of his fingerprints as a signature. The
engravings demonstrate familiarity with the
construction of skin ridge. In two of the books he
added Thomas Bewick, his mark under the
impressions.

3.

Sir William J. Herschel Credited as being the

first European to recognize the value of friction
ridge points and to actually use them for
identification purposes.

4.

Dr. J.C.A. Mayer (1788) of Germany He

published the following statements in his anatomical
atlas; although the arrangement of skin ridges is
never duplicated in two persons, nevertheless
the similarities are closer among some
individuals. In others the differences are marked,
yet in spite of their peculiarities of arrangement all
have a certain likeness. This deduction was
published 100 years before the Konai contract.
Dr. Henry Faulds (1843-1930) In 1875 Faulds
had opened a missionary hospital and a year later
started a medical school in Japan where he may
have been exposed to fingerprints. He wrote a letter
to Charles Darwin telling him of his studies and
requesting assistance. He mentioned that
fingerprints can be classified easily and that
ridge detail is unique. He pointed out the value
of fingerprints of being in medico legal
studies and commented that photographs of
people change over the years but rugae (friction
ridges) never change.

5.

6.

7.

Thomas Taylor (1877) - A microscopist of the

Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC who
also suggested that fingerprints could be used
to solve crime.
Alphonse Bertillon (1853-1914) He devised the
first truly scientific method of criminal identification
in Paris France called anthropometry or
Bertillonage. He conceived the idea of using
anatomical measurements to distinguish one
criminal from another. He decided to use various
body measurements such as head length, head
breadth, length of left middle finger, length of the left
cubit (forearm)/ length of left foot, body height, face
breadth, face height and other descriptions including
features such as scars and hair and eye color to
distinguish criminals.

8.

Dr. Henry P. De Forrest - He utilized the first

official municipal use of fingerprints for noncriminal registration on December 19, 1902 in the
Municipal Civil Service Commission in the City of
New York. He required civil service applicants to be
fingerprinted to prevent them from having better
qualified persons take test for them and put the
system into practice.

9.

Capt. James I. Parke He advocated the first

state and penal use of fingerprint which was
officially adopted in Sing-sing prison on June 5,
1903 and later at Auburn, Napanoch and Clinton
Penitentiaries.

10. Sgt. Kenneth Perrier An Englishman and first

fingerprint instructor at the St. Luis Police
Department, Missouri. He was one of the pupils of
Sir. Edward Richard Henry and through personal
contact during the Worlds Fair Exposition held in St.
Luis, a fingerprint bureau was established on
April 12, 1904.
11. Mary K. Holland She was the first American
Instructor in Dactyloscopy.
12. Harry Mayers II In 1925, he installed the first
official foot and fingerprint system for infants at
the Jewish Maternity Hospital, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, USA, and the first system in the
state.
13. Juan (Ivan) Vucetich (1855-1925) The fast face
of the advancement of fingerprinting in England was
due to the ingenuity of Juan Vucetich, who was
employed as a statistician with the Central Police
Department at La Planta, Argentina. In July 1891,
the Chief of Police assigned Vucetich to set up a
bureau of Anthropometric Identification.
14. Sir Edward Henry (1850-1931) At the same time
that Vucetich was experimenting with fingerprinting
in Argentina, another classification system was
being developed in India. This system was called
The Henry Classification System.
FINGERPRINTING IN NORTH AMERICA (1877-1900)
15. Isaiah West Taber (1880) In 1880, a
photographer in San Francisco who suggested that
fingerprinting be adopted for the registration of
Chinese immigrant laborers.
16. Gilbert Thompson (1882) He used his thumbprint
to ensure that the amounts were not changed or
altered on payroll cheques. When issuing a payroll
cheque, he would put an inked thumbprint over the
amount. This is to prevent fraudulent cheque
alterations.
17. Mark Twain (1894) An America author and
lecture, Twain enhanced the position of fingerprints

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Subject: Dactyloscopy
when he included their use in the plot of a novel
entitled Puddn Head Wilson. In the novel, a bloody
fingerprint is found in the murder weapon and
Puddn Head, the defense attorney, has the
whole town fingerprinted. He lectured the court
and jury on the basics of fingerprinting, how
fingerprints are immutable, and that two
fingerprints will never be found to be the same.
He also commented on how identical twins can
be indistinguishable in appearance, at times
even by their parents, but their fingerprints will
always be different.
Fingerprinting in Canada (1904-1920)
18. Edward Foster (1863-1956) Foster, Canadian
constable of the Dominion Police attended the
worlds Fair to guard a display of gold. He attended
Ferriers presentation at the convention and
intrigued by the possibilities that fingerprinting had
to offer, he felt that a bureau would be effective than
an anthropometry bureau. He also felt that a
national organization in Canada, similar to the
International Association of Chiefs of Police, would
encourage cooperation among Canadian police
departments and be an ideal body to promote a
national interest in fingerprinting.
Scientific Researchers
19. Nehemiah Grew (1641-1712) Grew, English
botanist, physician and micropist. In 1684 he
published a paper in the philosophical transactions
of the Royal Society of London describing his
observations of the Innumerable little ridges of
equal big ness on the ends of the first joints of
the fingers. He described sweat pores,
epidermal
ridges,
and
their
various
arrangements. Included in his paper was a drawing
of the configurations of the hand displaying the ridge
flow on the fingers and palms.
20.

Govard Bidloo (1685) Bidloo, anatomist in

Amsterdam, Holland, published a book on human
anatomy illustrating friction ridges and pore
structure on the underside of the fingers. His
comments were morphological in nature and he did
not refer to or mentioned the individuality of friction
ridges.

21. Marcello Malpighi (1628-1694) A professor in

1685 at the University of Bologna, Italy, published
the results of his examination of the friction skin
with the newly invented microscope. He has
been credited with being the first to use a
microscope in medical studies. His paper dealt
mainly with the function, form, and structure of
the friction skin as a tactile organ, and its use in
the enhancement of traction for walking and
grasping.
He was known as the Grandfather of
Dactyloscopy according to Dr. Edmond Locard,

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the Father of Poroscopy. He originated the

terms loops and spirals.
22. JCA Mayer (1788) A German doctor and
anatomist whose paper on fingerprint clearly
addressed the individuality of the friction ridges.
23. Johannes (Jean) Evangelista Purkinje (17871869) A professor at the University of Breslau,
Germany, published a thesis that contained his
studies on the eye, fingerprints and other skin
features entitled, Commentatio de Examine
Phisiologico Organi Visus et Systematis. He
classified nine principal configuration groups of
fingerprints and assigned each a name he was
known as the Father of Dactyloscopy.
24. Arthur Kollman (1883) The first researcher to
address the formation of friction ridges in embryos
and the topographical physical stressors that may
have been part of their growth. He identified the
presence and locations of the valor pads of the
human hand and foot.
25. H. Klaatsch (1888) From Germany who examined
the walking pads and eminences of several
pentadactylous of five fingered mammals. He
was credited being the first researcher to examine
the walking surface of other mammals. He also
referred to the arrangement of the fundamental
limits of the friction ridges as the reason why all
ridge formation are different.
26. David Hepburn (1895) He is connected with the
University of Edinburgh, Scotland, published a
paper on the similarity in appearance of the
eminences or walking surfaces of primates
entitled, The Papilliary Ridges on the Hands and
feet of monkeys and men. He was the first to
recognized that ridges assist gripping by
creating friction and that they had a function
other increasing tactile stimulus.
Historical Background Philippine Setting
27. Mr. Jones was the first to teach fingerprints in the
Philippine Constabulary sometime in the year 1900.
The Bureau of Prisons in the year 1918, records
show that the fingerprints already existed in the
carpetas
28. L. Asa N. Darby, under his management during the
re-occupation of the Philippines by the American
Forces, a modern and complete Fingerprint File has
been
establishment
in
the
Philippine
Commonwealth.
29. Mr. Genoroso Reyes was the first Filipino
Fingerprint Technician employed by the Philippine
Constabulary.
30. Capt. Thomas Dugan of New York City Police
Department and Mr. Flaviano G. Guerrero of the

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Subject: Dactyloscopy
Federal Bureau of Investigation, Washington, gave
the first examinations for fingerprint in 1937.
Plaridel Educational Institution (PEI), now the
Philippine College of Criminology (PCCr), Manila
is the first governmental recognized school to teach
the science of fingerprints and other police
sciences.
C.

Legality of Fingerprints

1. People vs. Jennings [252 III. 534, 96 NE 1077

(1911)] pass upon the admissibility of fingerprint
evidence. Fingerprint evidence was admitted as a
means of identification. It was also held that persons
experienced in the matter of fingerprint identification
may give their opinions as to whether the
fingerprints found at the scene of the crime
correspond with those of the accused. The courts
conclusion were based on a comparison of the
photographs of such prints with the impressions
made by the accused, there being no questions as
to the accuracy or authenticity of the photographs. It
was stated that the weight to be given to the
testimony of experts in the fingerprint identification
as a question for the jury.
2. New Jersey State vs. Cerciello, in which
fingerprint evidence was permitted to be
introduced. The defendant argued that it was an
error to allow the testimony by experts explaining
the comparison of fingerprints obtained from the
defendant voluntarily with those fingerprints found
upon a hatchet near the body of the deceased when
the body was discovered. The New Jersey Court of
Errors and Appeals held, in principle, its admission
as legal evidence is based upon the theory that the
evolution in practical affairs of fife, whereby the
progressive and scientific tenderness of the age are
manifested in every other department of human
endeavor, cannot be ignored in legal procedure.
But, that the law it its effort to enforce justice by
demonstrating a fact in issue, will allow evidence of
those scientific processes which are the work of
educated and skillful men in their various
departments, and apply them to the demonstrations
of fact, leaving the weight and effect to be given to
the effort and its results entirely to the consideration
of the jury.
3. In the case of State Vs. Conners [87 N.T.L. 419, 94
Atl.812 (1915)] it was held competent to show by a
photograph the fingerprints upon the balcony post of
a house entered, without producing that post in
court, and to show by expert testimony that the
fingerprints found on the post were similar to the
fingerprints of the defendant.
4. Lamble vs. State [Lamble v. State, 96 N.T.L. 231;
114 ATL. (N.J) 346 (1921)] which involved the
discovery of fingerprints on the door of an
automobile, the court was of the opinion that it was
not necessary to produce the door as evidence. The

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court stated that a photograph of the fingerprints

noted on the door should be sufficient along with the
identification of the fingerprints by an expert to show
these of the defendant. The court referred to the
previous decided case of States v. Conners.
5. Commonwealth v. Albright, [101 Pa. Sup. C.L.317
(1931)] - a fingerprint expert testified that the
fingerprint on a piece of glass, established to be
from a pane in a door that had been broken to effect
entrance to the house was the same as the
impression of the defendants left index finger and
he explained in detail the points of identity which led
him to that judgment. In the Albright case, the court
stated, it is well settled that the papillary lines and
marks on the fingers of every man, woman and child
posses an individual character different from those
of any other person and that the chances that the
fingerprints of two different persons may be
identified are infinitesimally remote.
6. People v. Corral [224 cal. 2d 300 (1964)] - it is
completely settled law that fingerprints are the
strongest evidence of the identity of a person. This
Doctrine was reasserted in another California case,
People v. Riser [47 cal. 2d. 566 (1956)] in which the
court stated, fingerprint evidence is the strongest
evidence of identity and is ordinarily sufficient alone
to identify the defendant.
7. Schmerber
v
California
[Schmerber
v.
California,384 us,757,767(1966)] - The introduction
into evidence of fingerprint impressions taken
without consent of the defendant was not an
infringement of the constitutional privileged against
self incrimination. The high court held that it is
constitutional to obtain real or physical evidence
even if the suspect is compelled to give blood in a
hospital environment, submit to fingerprinting,
photographing or measurement, write or speak for
identification, appears in court, stand or walk,
assume a stance or make a particular gesture, put
on cloth that fits him, or exhibit his body as evidence
when it is material. The Schmerber case points out
the fact that the privilege against self-incrimination is
related primarily to TESTIMONIAL COMPULSION.
In the Philippines:
8. In the BILANGAWA v. AMADOR case, (Court of
Appeals No.37320-b) a fingerprint expert and
constabulary sergeant testified and successfully
defended fingerprint evidence based on eight
identical ridge points.
9.

People of the Philippines vs. Medina, 59, Phil.

330 of December 23, 1933 were the first conviction
based on fingerprint and led to the judicial decision
in the Philippine jurisprudence.

Types of Ridge Formation

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Subject: Dactyloscopy
1.
2.
3.
4.

Recurving ridge Is the ridge that curves back in

the direction in which it started. It looks like a hair
pin.
Converging Ridges Two or more lines forming an
angle, a ridge whose closed end is angular and
serves as a point of convergent.
Diverging ridges Two ridges running side by side
and suddenly separating, one ridge going one way
and the other ridge in another way.
Bifurcating ridge A single ridge which splits into
two forming a Y shape, formation or structure. It is

18.

Creases- Are thin, usually straight narrow white

lines running transversely or formed side to side,
across the print, causing the puckering of the ridges.
19. Staple- Single recurving ridge at the center of the
pattern area.
20. Spike- An ending ridge at the center of a pattern
which forms the upthrust.
21. Enclosure a bifurcation which does not remain
open but which the legs of the bifurcation, after
running along side by side for a short distance,
come together again to form a single ridge once
more.

Ridge Characteristics
1.

2.
3.
4.
5.

6.
7.
8.

9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.

15.
16.
17.

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.
Dot or Series of dots They are fragmentary
ridges formed like a dot or dots.
Short or Series of Short Ridges They are
fragmentary ridges formed by short or series of
short ridges.
Ridge-ending It is a termination or ending of ridge
or ridges.
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.
Ridge Hook It is a ridge that divides to form two
ridges which are shorter in length than the main
ridge.
Ridge Bridge This is a connecting ridge between
two ridges.
Incipient or Nascent Ridge This is a kind of
ridge which is madly formed, thin, short or broken
which appear or appears in the depressions
between two well formed ridges.
Sufficient recurve The space between shoulders
of a loop, free of any appendage, and abutting at
right angle.
Appendage- a short ridge at the top or summit of a
recurve usually at right angle.
Envelop Is a single recurving ridge enclosing one
or more rods or bars.
Rod or bar Is a single ending ridge at the center
of a recurving ridge of a loop pattern.
Uptrust Is an ending ridge of any length rising at
a sufficient degree from a horizontal place.
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 individual.
Shoulder of a loop- It is that point at which the
recurving ridge definitely turns or curve.
Shoulder of a loop- It is that point at which the
recurving ridge definitely turns or curve.
Puckering- As growth ceases at several ends, the
ends curls slightly.

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Focal Points of Fingerprint Pattern

1.
2.

Core Is a point on a ridge formation usually

located at the center or heart of a pattern.
Delta or Triradial Point Is a point on the first
ridge formation directly at or in front or near the
center of the divergence of the type lines. It may be:
a) a bifurcation b) an abrupt ending ridge c) a dot
d) a short ridge e) a meeting of two ridges f) a
point on the first recurving ridge located nearest
to the center and in front of the divergence of
the type lines.

Type Lines and Pattern Area

Type lines - basic boundaries of most

fingerprints formed by ridges which run parallel,
starting from the lower corner of the pattern and
flowing inward and upward the edge of the
pattern area, where they diverge or separate,
then surround or tend to surround the pattern
area.

Pattern area- The part of the fingerprint which

lies within the area surrounded by the type
lines.
Rules in Core Location
1. The core is placed upon or within the sufficient
recurving ridge.
2. When the innermost sufficient recurve contains
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.
3. When the innermost sufficient recurve contains
no ending ridge or rod rising as high as the
shoulders of the loop, the core is placed on the
shoulder of the farther from the delta.
4. 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 farther one of the two center rods being
treated as though they were connected by a
recurving ridge. The shoulders of a loop are the

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Subject: Dactyloscopy
points at which the recurving ridge definitely
turns inward or curves.
Rules in Delta Location
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 equally close to the
point of divergence, the bifurcation is selected.
3. When there is a series of bifurcations opening
towards the point of divergence of the type
lines, the bifurcation nearest to the core is
chosen as the delta.
4. The delta may not be located in the middle of
the ridge running between the type lines toward
the core but at the nearer end only. The delta
depends entirely on the point of origin of the
ridge.
5. If the ridge enters the pattern area from a point
below the divergence of the type lines, the delta
must be located at the end nearer to the core.
What are ridge tracing, ridge counting and ridge
count?

Ridge Tracing is the process of tracing the

ridge that originates from the left delta toward
the right delta to see where it flows in relation to
the right delta.

Ridge Counting is the process of counting the

ridges that touch or cross an imaginary line
drawn between the core and delta of a loop.

Ridge Count is the number of ridges

intervening between the delta and the core.

2.

ARCHES The ridges go from one side of the

pattern to another, never turning back to make
a loop. (Solis, p 59)
a. Plain Arch - A pattern in which the ridges
enter on one side of the pattern, then flow
or tend to flow towards the other side, with
a rise or wave in the center, with no
angular ridge formation and no upthrust.
(Tubid)
b. Tented Arch - A pattern similar to a loop,
but lacking at least one of the essential
elements of a loop. This is a type of
fingerprint pattern where majority of the
ridges form an arch and one or more of the
ridges at the center form a tent in outline,
giving an angle of 90 degrees or less; or
one with un upward thrust having an angle
of 45 degrees or more; or a pattern similar
to a loop, but lacking at least one of the
essential elements of a loop. (Tubid)

3.

WHORLS Patterns with two deltas and

patterns too irregular in form to classify:

a.

Plain whorl (simple whorls Solis, p59),

defined: 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, defined 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 is made up of two (2)
pattern in one, a whorl inside a loop .
Double Loop Whorl, defined 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 two
deltas.
Accidental Whorl, defined It is a pattern that
is a combination of two or more different types
of patterns except in the PLAIN ARCH. It can
be a combination of a loop and a whorl, a loop
or a central pocket loop whorl, or any
combination of two or more different loops and
whorl type pattern. Like the central pocket loop
whorl and the double loop whorl, some

Standard Fingerprint Patterns

1. Loops (60 % in appearance)
ulnar
radial
2.
3.

1.

Arches (5 % in appearance)
- Tented
- plain
Whorl (35 % in appearance)
Plain whorl
Central pocket loop whorl
Double loop whorl
Accidental whorl
LOOPS - A type of fingerprint pattern in which
one or more of the ridges enters on either side
of the impression, recurve, touch or pass an
imaginary line drawn from the delta to the core,
and terminate or tend to terminate on or toward
the same side of the impression from which
such ridge or ridges entered.
a. Ulnar Loop - Loops which flow in the
direction of the ulna bone or towards the
little finger.
b. Radial Loop loops which flow or recurve
towards the radial side or thumb.
ESSENTIALS OF A LOOP

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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 of a minimum
of at least one (1) across a looping ridge.

b.

c.

d.

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Subject: Dactyloscopy
authorities or authors call accidental whorl
COMPOSITE.
Kinds of Impressions
1. Real Impressions Impression of the finger bulbs
with the use of printing ink on the surface of the
paper. Other coloring materials may be used but
they are less visible and indelible
a.

b.

2.

Plain method The bulbs of the last

phalanges of the fingers and thumbs are
pressed on the surface of the paper after
pressing them on an ink pad or ink plate with
printing ink.
Rolled Method The bulbs of the thumb and
other fingers are rolled on the surface of the
paper after being rolled in an ink pad or ink
plate with the printing ink.

Chance impression Refers to fingerprints which

are imprinted or impressed by mere chance or
without any intention to produce it.
a.

b.

c.

Visible/Patent prints impression made by

chance and is visible without previous
treatment. Impression made by the fingers
smeared with some colored substance, like
black ink, vegetable juice, may be visible
immediately after impression.
Semi-visible/plastic/molded
prints

impressions made by chance by pressing the

finger tips on melted paraffin, putty, resin,
cellophane, plastic tape, butter, soap, etc.
These prints need not a development, although
photography is more applicable.
Invisible/Latent prints prints which are not
visible after impression but made visible by the
addition of some substances.

Latent prints Any chance or accidental impression left

by friction ridge skin on a surface, regardless of whether
it is visible or invisible at the time of deposition.
Patent prints These are friction ridge impressions of
unknown origin which are obvious to the human eye and
are caused by a transfer of foreign material on the finger,
onto a surface. Because they are already visible they
need no enhancement, and are photographed instead of
being lifted.
Plastic prints/Molded prints - A friction ridge
impression from a finger or palm (or toe/foot) deposited
in a material that retains the shape of the ridge detail.
Commonly encountered examples are melted candle
wax; putty removed from the perimeter of window panes
and thick grease deposits on car parts. Such prints are
already visible and need no enhancement, but
investigators must not overlook the potential that
invisible latent prints deposited by accomplices may also
be on such surfaces.

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How to Get Fingerprint Impressions on Dead

Bodies?
1. In cases of fresh dead bodies, the fingers are
unclenched and each one is inked individually
with the aid of a small rubber roller. The paper
where the print will be impressed will be placed
in a spoon-shaped piece of wood and slowly and
evenly rolled over the pattern.
2. If the fist is too tightly clenched, a small
incision may be made at the base of the fingers.
The contraction may also be overcome by
dipping the hands in hot water.
3. If the so-called washerwomans skin is not
too marked on the fingerprints of dead
bodies recovered shortly from bodies of
water (floaters), the fingers may be dried off
with towel and glycerin is injected with a syringe
under the skin of the finger tips in order to
smoothen the surface. The fingerprints are then
taken like that of a fresh dead body.
4. If the floater has been in a body of water
for longer time and the friction ridges have
disappeared, the skin of the fingertips is cut
away. This area of skin from each finger is
placed in a small labeled test tubes containing
formaldehyde solution. If the papillary ridges
are still preserved on the outer surface, the
person taking the prints places a portion of the
skin on his right index finger protected by a
rubber glove and then takes the print after inking
the finger tip. The same procedure as described
may be applied to putrefied or burned bodies
according to circumstances.

Fingerprint Classification

Classification - is the method of obtaining a

formula for a set of fingerprints whereby it may be
located in the filling cabinet.
Classification Formula - is the numerical
description for a set of classified fingerprints which
is composed of figure and letters written above the
horizontal line like a fraction.
Blocking - is the process of writing below each
finger-print pattern the corresponding symbols of its
name.

Six Divisions of Classifications in Order According

to their Importance
(Edward Henry Henry System)
1. Primary Classification
2. Secondary Classification
3. Sub-secondary classification
4. Major Division
5. Key
6. Final
Formation in classification line
Key Maj.
Prim.
Sec.
Sub.Sec.

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Final

International School of Asia and the Pacific 8

Subject: Dactyloscopy
Div.

Class.

Class

Class

they are given the identical classification of the

opposite fingers.

Class
1.

Primary Classification is the sum total of all

numerical values of whose found in fingerprint set
expressed as the numerator and the denominator
plus the pre- established fraction of one over 1 (1/1).

2.

How to get the primary classification

a. By Pairing
b. By assigning numerical values to whorl patterns
only
Types of Fingerprint Patterns (Symbol)
Without numerical value: A, T, R, U
With numerical value: W, C, D, X
c.

Knowing the numerators and denominators in

the pairs
Note: Even Number- Numerator
Odd Number- Denominator

d.

Summing up the numerical values of whorls

assigned to the fingers plus the pre-established
fraction of 1/1
N= 16+8+4+2+1 = 31+1 = 32
D= 16+8+4+2+1 = 31+1 = 32

Number of Possible Combination in Primary

Classification

There are 1,024 possible combination for

primary classification from 1/1 to 32/32.

1/1 lowest primary classification

32/32 highest primary classification

Note: Whorl type of pattern is the only
fingerprint patterns with numerical values and
an arbitrary count of one (1) is always added.
Purpose of Fixed Count of One:
The purpose is to avoid a classification of zero over zero
(0/0) in a set of prints in which this might be mistaken for
a letter O which has another specific meaning in the
classification.
CLASSIFICATION OF AMPUTATIONS AND FINGERS
MISSING AT BIRTH

If one finger is amputated, it is given a

classification identical with that of the opposite
finger, including pattern and ridge count or
tracing.

If two or more finger are amputated they are

given classification identical with the opposite
fingers.

If two amputated finger are opposite each other,

both are given the classification of whorls with
meeting tracing.

When fingerprint card bearing notation of

fingers missing at birth is classified, the missing
fingers should be treated as amputations in that

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Secondary Classification is the exhibition of

Capital Letter symbols of plain arch, tented
arch, radial loop, ulnar loop, plain whorl,
central-pocket loop, double loop whorl, and
accidental found in the index finger of both
hands.
The pattern appearing on the right index
should be placed on the numerator and the
pattern appearing on the left index should
be placed on the denominator.
There are twenty five (25) possible
combinations which may appear in the
index finger from A/A to W/W without C, D,
and X. (Collins) There are 64 combinations
for filing from A/A to X/X.
Secondary Small Letter Classification - It is
the exhibition of small letter symbols of arch,
tented arch and radial loop found before and
after the index finger of both hands.

3.

Sub- Secondary Classification is the

exhibition of the resultant symbol for the ridge
counting in loops as expressed by symbol I and
O and ridge tracing for whorl as expressed by
symbol IMO from the right index to the left ring
finger excluding the thumbs and the little fingers
of both hands.
Fingers to be considered are: index
finger, middle finger, and ring finger of both
hands.
Loop Sub- Secondary by Ridge Counting It
is the exhibition of the resultant symbol for the
ridge counting in loops as expressed by symbol
IO found from indexes, middles and ring fingers
of both hands, the ridges are counted and
compound to the pre-established table to obtain
the resultant symbol IO. All loop sets of prints
using the Index, Middle, and Ring fingers of
both hands has sixty four (64) combinations.
Whorl Sub- Secondary by Ridge Tracing when the whorl is found on the index, middle
and ring fingers of both hands the ridges are
traced to obtain the resultant symbol IMO.
There are seven hundred twenty nine (729)
possible Subsecondary combinations for whorl
type patterns in the Index, Middle, and Ring
fingers of both hands.
For whorl tracing:
Meeting (M) 0 to 2 ridges from left delta
to the right delta
Outer (O) 3 or more ridges below the
right delta

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International School of Asia and the Pacific 9

Subject: Dactyloscopy
Inner (I) 3 or more ridges above the right
delta.

3)

For Tented Arch and Plain Arch

If a Plain Arch or Tented arch are present on
the index, middle, and ring fingers of both
hands, just put a dash (-) for the sub-secondary
classification.
4.

Major Division is the exhibition of the ridge

counting in loops as expressed by symbol SML
and the ridge tracing for whorls as expressed
by symbols IMO found on the thumbs of both
hands.

5.

Three (3) Kinds of Major Division

1)

Loop Major Division When the loop is

found on the thumb of both hands, the ridges
are counted and compared to the preestablished table of Whorl Major Division.

Denominator
Left Hand

Numerator
Right Hand

1- 11= S
12- 16= M

1-11= S
12- 16= M
17 > = L

17 > = L

1 17 = S
18 22 = M
23 > = L

2)

Whorl Major Division When the whorl is

found on the thumbs of both hands, the

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ridges are traced to obtain the resultant

symbol IMO.
Combination of Loop and Whorl Major
Division When one of the thumbs is loop,
the resultant symbol SML is used and when
the other thumb is whorl, the resultant symbol
IMO is used. For T and A just put dash in the
classification line.
Final Classification It is the ridge count of
the loops an whorls found on the little fingers of
both hands. Arches and tented arches are
represented by dashes in classification formula.
For T and A just put dash in the
classification line.
Final Classification is located or placed on
the extreme right of the classification line.
How to Ridge Count a Whorl:
When a whorl is found on the right little
finger, ridges are counted from left delta to
the core.
When the whorl is found on the left little
finger, ridges are counted from right delta
to the core.

6.

Key Classification - It is the ridge count of the

first loop from the right thumb to the left ring
finger excluding little fingers of both hands. In
the absence of loop, the ridge count of the first
whorl will be utilized as the key treated as ulnar
loop.
For T and A just put dash in the
classification line.
The Key Classification is placed on the
extreme left of the classification line and is
always represented as numerator, no
matter where it is taken.
READ: PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION by
P. Tubid

#GOBACKTOBASIC