Ridge Characteristics

Question 1

The two
outermost
ridges which
tend to
surround the
pattern area. It is also the skeleton of each pattern.

Answer 1

Type Lines

Question 2

The basic boundaries of most fingerprint patterns.

Answer 2

Type Lines

Question 3

The area
surrounded by
the typelines.

Answer 3

Pattern area

Question 4

The area of a
loop or whorl
which contains
the ridge details. It is the area inside the type lines and the only
part of a fingerprint which is of importance in
regard to interpretation and classification.

Answer 4

Pattern area

Question 5

The area where
delta can be
found inside the
two diverging
ridges.

Answer 5

Point of divergence

Question 6

It is two ridges running side by side and
suddenly separating, one ridge going one way
and the other ridge going another way.

Answer 6

Diverging Ridges

Question 7

A ridge formation whose closed end is angular
and serves as a point of convergence, usually
pointed and abrupt forming a “V” shape.

Answer 7

Converging Ridges

Question 8

The ridges that curve back from which it started
in the horizontal baseline.

Answer 8

Recurving ridges (looping ridges)

Question 9

The two points where the looping ridge start
and ends its curve.

Answer 9

Shoulders of a loop

Question 10

Located at the top or closed end of a
recurving ridge between the two shoulders.

Answer 10

Sufficient Recurve

Question 11

Ridges which are thin, usually straight narrow
white lines running transversely, or formed side
to side, across the print, causing the puckering
of the ridges. They are caused mainly by minor surface
damaged, work and tear or advanced of age.

Answer 11

Crease

Question 12

It is a linear depression in the skin. It is look like small white cracks.

Answer 12

Flexion creases

Question 13

The heart of the pattern. The approximate center of the pattern.

Answer 13

Core (inner terminus)

Question 14

Found at, in front and/or near the point of
divergence.

Answer 14

Delta (outer terminus & tri-radius)

Question 15

A single ending ridge located inside the innermost
sufficient recurve in a loop pattern it appears inside the innermost sufficient recurve.

Answer 15

Rod/Bar/Spike

Question 16

A single ridge which splits into two ridges, forming a “Y” shape structure. It is referred to
as a fork.

Answer 16

Bifurcating ridge (bifurcation)

Question 17

It is a bifurcation where one
of the ridge path bifurcates.

Answer 17

Double bifurcation

Question 18

It is a friction ridge that divides into three friction
ridges.

Answer 18

Trifurcating ridges ( trifurcation)

Question 19

These are two bifurcations located at both ends of a
single ridge.

Answer 19

Opposed bifurcation

Question 20

Bifurcations that appear in tandem or group.

Answer 20

Series bifurcation

Question 21

It is the point where two ridges
crosses each other forming an “X” formation.

Answer 21

Ridge crossing

Question 22

A bifurcation with one short ridge branching
off a longer ridge.

Answer 22

Spur/Hook ridge

Question 23

A short ridge that spoils the sufficiency of a
recurve located at the top or summit of a
recurve usually at right angle.

Answer 23

Appendage/Abutment

Question 24

It is a single recurving ridge on the center of the pattern area. It can be located along the
looping ridges.

Answer 24

Staple

Question 25

A ridge of extremely short in length not more than 3 millimeters

Answer 25

Fragment

Question 26

A ridge that is insufficient or limited in length other than the fragment.

Answer 26

Short ridge

Question 27

A group of short ridges found inside a pattern area. These ridges could appear also as broken short ridges between well-formed ridges.

Answer 27

Series of short ridges

Question 28

Any dot or point that can be observed inside a fingerprint pattern.

Answer 28

Dot ridge

Question 29

The group of dots as printed inside a pattern area.

Answer 29

Series of dot ridges/Row of dots

Question 30

An abrupt end of any ridge formation.

Answer 30

Ridge ending

Question 31

The space or between two ridges that appears to be continuous.

Answer 31

Ridge break

Question 32

Refers to a formation of ridge that forms a lake-like smaller in size than the enclosure.

Answer 32

Island/Lake

Question 33

A bifurcation which does not remain open but in the legs of the bifurcation, after running alongside for a short distance, come together to form a single ridge once more.

Answer 33

Enclosure

Question 34

A single recurving ridge enclosing one or more bars, short or dot ridge.

Answer 34

Envelope

Question 35

A ridge that connects atleast two ridges. It must have crossed and connected two ridges.

Answer 35

Crossover/Bridge ridge

Question 36

An overlap is where two ridges ends meet and overlap on a bias.

Answer 36

Overlap

Question 37

A kind of ridge that appears curly, irregular in appearance and growth ceases at several ends.

Answer 37

Puckering ridge

Question 38

Ridges that were never counted because they are only the result of dirt, blurred impressions, dirty fingerprint paraphernalia and other factors, the short narrow and badly formed ridges found between two well formed ridges.

Answer 38

Incipient ridges (Nascent ridges) /Rudimentary

Question 39

Are usual ridge structure having a no well defined pattern, the ridge are extremely short, they appear like series of patches caused by disturbance during developmental process at early fetal life of an individual

Answer 39

Dissociated ridges

Question 40

A pattern in which the ridges enter on one side of the pattern then flow toward the other side, with a rise at the center.

Answer 40

Plain Arch A

Question 41

A fingerprint pattern where majority of the ridges form an arch and one or more ridges at the center shape a tent in outline giving an angle of 90 degrees or less or one with an upward thrust having an angle of 45% or more, or a pattern similar to a loop but lacking one or two of its essential elements.

Answer 41

Tented arch T

Question 42

A fingerprint pattern that has a downward slope or slanting of the ridges towards the direction of the thumb either to the right or left hand.

Answer 42

Radial loop R

Question 43

The ridges in this pattern make a backward turn arranging themselves in the form of a hairpin or staple.

Answer 43

Plain loop

Question 44

The ridges of this pattern converge sharply to give the pattern a possible whorl like appearance.

Answer 44

Converging loop

Question 45

The ridges of this pattern conform to the explanation of the plain loop but additionally the looping ridges bent over and drops towards the delta.

Answer 45

Nutant loop

Question 46

A fingerprint pattern consisting of two deltas and in which at least one ridge makes a turn through one complete circuit of 360 degrees.

Answer 46

Plain whorl W

Question 47

A fingerprint pattern which possesses two deltas, with one or more ridges forming a complete circuit which may be oval, spiral, circular, or any variant of a circle. Means, there are two patterns in one, a whorl inside loop.

Answer 47

Central pocket loop whorl C

Question 48

A fingerprint pattern consisting of two separate and distinct loop formations with two sets of shoulders, and two deltas.

Answer 48

Double Loop Whorl D

Question 49

A fingerprint pattern consisting of a combination of two different patterns. A combination of a loop and any whorl. But it cannot be the combination of an arch with any other pattern.

Answer 49

Accidental Whorl X

Question 50

It is a point on the ridge formation usually located at the approximate center or heart of the pattern.

Answer 50

Core (Inner Terminus)

Question 51

It is the process of counting the ridges that touch or cross an imaginary line drawn between the core and the delta of a loop pattern.

Answer 51

Ridge counting

Question 52

The process of tracing the ridges intervening between the tracing ridge (flows from the left delta to the right delta) and the right delta in a whorl pattern.

Answer 52

Ridge tracing

Question 53

Result is 3 or more ridge count above or inside the right delta.

Answer 53

Inner Whorl (I)

Question 54

Result is 3 or more ridge count below or outside the right delta.

Answer 54

Outer whorl (O)

Question 55

The ridge count is 0, 1, 2 either below or above the right delta.

Answer 55

Meeting whorl (M)