Loop, Whorl, and Arch

All finger prints have specific general patterns the three main patterns are loops, whorls and arches. A loop is described as ridge lines that curve on the same side of the finger print pattern that they enter. It has been determined that 65% of the population has loops located in their fingerprint pattern.  The loop is further classified by the direction the loop opens towards, if the loop opens towards a little finger it is said to be an ulnar loop and if the loop open towards a thumb it is said to be a radial loop.

 The classification of a whorl includes the fact that it has to have at least two details, the ridge patterns of a whorl are circular or rounded 30 to 35 percent of our population have whorls located in their finger  print pattern. Whorls are defined by four groups’ plain, central pocket loop, double loop, and accidental.

The least used identification is the arch pattern.  The arch pattern identifies finger print ridge lines that cross from one side of the print and out the other side. Arch finger print identification represents about   5% of the overall population.  The Arch finger print is divided into plain and tented.

References:

www.policensw.com/info/fingerprints/finger02.html

Criminalistics An introductory To Forensic Science Ninth Edition Richard Saferstien Copyright 2007 Sadle River NewJersey, 07458