DERMATOGLYPHICS / FINGERPRINTS

There are only four basic Dermatoglyphic patterns you need to be concerned with: The Whorl (or Swirl), the Arch,
the Loop, and the Triradius. All other markings are merely combinations and variations of these four patterns.
Each person will have a Whorl, Arch, or Loop on each fingertip (the fingerprints), a Triradius on the Mount of Luna
and beneath each finger, and most will also have two other Whorls or Loops elsewhere on the hand. Patterns can
also be found on the second and third phalanges of each finger.
The Whorl
The Whorl can be a Spiral, a Bulls-eye, or a Double Loop. Whorls are points of intensification, and should be noted
whenever they appear.
The Arch
This pattern can appear as a Flat Arch, or a Tented Arch. Pay special attention to any Arch which rises very high.
The Loop
Loops can rise towards the fingertips, or fall towards the wrist. The Common Loop moves towards the thumb, while
the Radial Loop (Reverse Loop) moves towards the percussion side of the hand.
The Triradius
The Triradius (also called the "Delta")can be used to pinpoint the exact center of each mount. The Mounts can then
be seen as Centered, Leaning, or Displaced.
Whorls
The three types of Whorls are the Spiral, the Bulls-eye, and the Double Loop. The Spiral and Bulls-eye prints are
quite similar in their interpretations, the latter giving slightly more focus. Anywhere on the hand the Whorls
highlight and emphasize that particular region, making it an area of focus in the subject's life.
Common Loop
The most common type of fingerprint is the Common Loop. This print reveals the ability to draw on ideas from
many sources, and blend them into a unique style.
The Loop reveals a natural "Follower". The desire to lead others is often present, but NOT the ability. Apply the
meaning of the Loop to whatever region in which it is found.

Radial Loop
A looped print entering and leaving from the thumb side of the hand is called the Radial Loop (sometimes called the
Reverse Loop, or Inventor's Loop). While the Common Loop shows the blending of other styles, the Radial Loop
reveals the ability to create an entirely new style or system. These people have keen visual memories, able to recall
not only images, but also the actions and emotions which accompanied these images. As with all other markings, the
Radial Loop applies to whatever area or finger on which it is found.
The Double Loop is perhaps the most misunderstood of all Dermatoglyphic markings. In general, interpret the
Double Loop as you would the other Whorls, with one major difference: Until the personality is developed there will
be a strong tendency towards exaggeration, manipulation, and subversive actions in the area of life indicated. For
example, a person with the Double Loop on both thumbs is likely in early life to use deceit to help assert their will
over others. Owners of this print gravitate towards dramatic careers, and with daily effort can easily attain great
renoun.
Whorls on the Fingerprints
Index Finger - "Gift of Perception". Individuals with this print are virtually impossible to deceive or lie to. As a
result, they generally lead very unhappy childhoods. They see only too clearly the deceptions and facades put on by
others, including their own parents.
Middle Finger - "Gift of Organization". Owners of this print will see categories and relationships which escape
most others. They will categorize people and events as specific "types". They are very curious, and enjoy uncovering
or investigating "secrets".
Ring Finger - "Gift of Discernment". This is the ability to spot flaws in any plan, design, concept, or person. A
strong tendency towards perfectionism, especially in their own work. These are the people who cannot tolerate a
picture hanging slightly crooked.
Baby Finger - "Gift of Communication". Although usually self-conscious and reserved, these subjects have the gift
of eloquence with the written and spoken word. Natural orators, they have the ability to move and inspire others
with the power of their voice. An interesting charateristic of this placement is the subject's spiritual views. They will
NEVER follow the dogma of any religion, but have their own unique philosophy in which they are extremely
confident.
Thumb Print - "Gift of Willpower". This print reveals a natural leader with a strong ability to command others.
They will dominate any situation with their inherent mesmerizing ability. There is a strong tendency towards
dictatorial or totalitarian views, especially with their children.

Radial Loop on the Fingerprints

Index Finger - Someone who will express their Ego in a unique way. This single print on the dominant hand reveals
that self-employment is the only route to personal fulfillment.
Middle Finger - One who uses their mind in a way uniquely their own. These are the great inventors, and are highly
creative, also having the ability to control their own autonomic systems (heartbeat, digestion, etc.) with their mind.
Ring Finger - A person who creates their own emotions and emotional responses. Others can never truly understand
these individuals, since one cannot understand emotions or responses that will never be experienced. As a result of
this, these people never feel that they "fit in" with society, but their lives are governed by the constant attempt. Fear
and loneliness issues must be overcome to attain fulfillment.
Baby Finger - Extremely rare. This print indicates someone who creates their own religious and spiritual views.
This would not be a blend of other philosophies, which is most common, but would be a religion based on entirely
new concepts.
The Arched Print
The Arched Print denotes traditional values and high morals. In almost every case, the moral values are due to some
"past" which the subject is ashamed of. People with this print find it difficult to view their own negative traits, and to
understand that the "past" which they look upon with distain or shame was merely an experience needed for the
personality to develop fully. The Flat Arch follows tradition with little independent thought, while the Tented Arch
reveals a depth of intellect.
Arches on the Fingerprints
Index Finger - One who has traditional views regarding their own ambitions, career, and leadership. They believe
they must work hard to make money, save this money, and invest in their future. These people's "pasts" are in areas
such as promiscuity and low self-esteem (suicidal tendencies, eating disorders, and other forms of self-abuse).
Middle Finger - Traditional values regarding the mind. For these people, education is the only way to success. Their
"pasts" are in areas such as drug abuse and the manipulation of others.
Ring Finger - Traditional values pertaining to the emotions (men don't cry, etc.). Their "past" is their previous lack
of emotional stability.
Baby Finger - Traditional values regarding communication, religion, and sex. These are the only people who will
truly follow the dogma of any specific religion, without modifying it to their own standards. Their "past" is their
promiscuity or lack of spirituality, but only because of the perceived "staining" of the soul.
Thumb - Traditional values in regards to the passions and willpower. Even after the personality has developed, there
is still a strong tendency towards domineering attitudes. The "past" for these people is when they fell prey to their
passions and desires, with little thought to the future repercussions.
When the arched print is found on both the index and middle fingers, there is great depth of intellect. While
sometimes appearing slow to grasp concepts, this is due to the subject desiring a complete understanding, instead of
just a superficial grasp of the knowledge.
Fingerprints, or more technically "friction ridges" are compared in forensics by the
comparison of "minutiae" or ridge characteristics. The minutiae are generally broken into
seven categories:

1. ridge ending - a ridge that ends abruptly;

2. bifurcation - a single ridge that divides into two ridges;
3. lake or enclosure - a single ridge that bifurcates and reunites shortly afterwards to
continue as a single ridge;
4. short ridge, island or independent ridge - a ridge that commences, travels a short
distance and then ends;
5. dot - an independent ridge with approximately equal length and width;
6. spur - a bifurcation with a short ridge branching off a longer ridge; and
7. crossover or bridge - a short ridge that runs between two parallel ridges.
What is a fingerprint?
Finger skin is made of friction ridges, with pores (sweat glands). Friction ridges are created during fatal live and
only the general shape is genetically defined. Friction ridges remain the same all life long, only growing up to adult
size. They reconstruct the same if not too severe injury.
Scars produce some unusual patterns that are easily recognizable.
Some skin diseases such as psoriasis cause problems for proper fingerprint recognition.

Twins have different fingerprints

While the overall appearence of monozygotic (identical) twins' fingerprints is often similar (a and c), they differ in
the fine details (the locations of ridge starting and stopping); in addition, they are no more similar to each other than
to some prints of unrelated individuals (b).

Identifying Fingerprint Patterns - Types of Fingerprints

For more than a century now, police squads and agencies all over the world have kept this
hidden weapon to combat crime – its fingerprint identification. Fingerprint identification
helps crime fighter all over by providing them with a reliable and accurate means of
identification. All other means of identification like weight, eye color, and hair color can
change or be changed, but fingerprints will never change.
In days gone by, many of the civilizations used tattooing, branding and even maiming as a
means to identify people and criminals. Although most of us have always been aware of the
basic fact that each and every individual possesses a unique set of ridges on the hands and
fingers, making use of these prints to identify criminal persons was not really accepted or
fully understood till the early 1900’s.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation established its first fingerprint identification division in
the year 1924, with a collection of 810,188 fingerprint files taken mostly from the
Leavenworth Penitentiary. These files became more and more important with the emergence
of an increasing number of intellectual criminals who crossed all legal and state lines.

Today, the FBI has in possession more than 250 millions different sets of fingerprint records.
This collection is enormous and is composed of both civil as well as criminal prints. The civil
file includes prints of government employees and candidates for federal jobs.

They say that if all the fingerprint cards in the FBI were to be piled one over the other, they
would probably be equal to one hundred and thirty three times the size of the Empire State
Building! – But that’s only a saying. Fingerprints will always differ from person to person and
is based on certain distinctive patterns of ridges.

Types of Fingerprint Patterns

There are essentially seven different types of fingerprint patterns that are being used for
fingerprint identification, which are:

• Loops – Loops make up almost 70 percent of the patterns that have been
encountered so far. A loop pattern is basically the existence and combination of one
delta and one core and a ridge count. There are basically two types of loops – ‘ulnar’
and ‘radial’.
• Whorls – Whorls constitute around 25-35 percent of the patterns that have been
brought in and mainly consists of whorls. A fingerprint pattern that contains 2 or even
more deltas will always be a whorl pattern.
• Plain Whorl – A plain whorl is that whorl that consists of at least one ridge that could
possibly make a complete circuit, with 2 deltas, where an imaginary line will be
drawn and it should have at least 1 recurving ridge.
 • Central Pocket Whorl – This type of a whorl consists of one recurving ridge, 2
deltas, an obstruction to the line of flow and no recurving ridge inside the pattern
area is touched or cut.
• Double Loop Whorl – This whorl is made up of 2 distinct yet separate loop
formations having 2 separate and distinct shoulders and also 2 deltas.
• Arches – Arches are encountered in only 5 percent of the patterns received. Arch
patterns consist of ridges that run from one side of the pattern to the other. There is
generally no delta. There are two types of arches – Plain arches and Tented arches.
• Whorl Tracings – There are essentially two different components to a whorl
classification – the first is the pattern and the second is the tracing. To find a whorl
tracing you must identify the left delta.

Types Of Fingerprints
Accidental Central Pocket Loop Double Loop Loop Plain Arch Plain Whorl Tented Arch
These are the steps on finding fingerprints on every day things. You could do this with
flour as fingerprinting powder, a make-up brush as the duster, and scotch tape as the
sticky paper. You could put it on a piece of paper for display and voila, a fingerprint!