Fingerprint Patterns

Fingerprint Patterns

How to determine if you have an arch, loop, or whorl.

Arches

• Arches are the most rare

• they have a very simple pattern

• all ridges enter from one side of the finger, arch up a little

Plain Arch

Notice that all of the ridges flow from one side of the finger to the other.

Tented Arch

This is still an arch, it is a "tented" arch as it looks like it has a tent pole in the middle.

Poll

Take a look at your 10 fingers. How many of your fingers have an arch pattern. (Remember to look at the bottom two thirds of your top finger joint, not just the very tip.)

• 1 or 2

• 3 or 4

• 5 or 6

• 7 or 8

• 9 or 10

Loops

• Loops are the most common type of fingerprint.

• A loop has a pattern where at least one (but usually more) fingerprint ridge comes in from one side, makes a turn or curve and goes back out the other.

• Loops have only ONE delta.

Loops

• In this picture, the two ridges are starting on the left, curving or turning, and going back out the left.

Loops

• notice the delta -- in a loop, it always looks like the loop is leaning on the delta

• loops also typically have a core or "center" to the loop

Poll

Take a look at your 10 fingers. How many of your fingers have a loop pattern?

• 1 or 2

• 3 or 4

• 5 or 6

• 7 or 8

• 9 or 10

Whorl

• Whorls are the most-complicated patterns.

• If a fingerprint has two deltas, it is automatically a whorl, even if it looks a lot like a loop.

• There are four types of whorls.

Plain Whorl

• In this picture, the two ridges are starting on the left, curving or turning, and going back out the left.