Course: BS Criminology TANDAG, INC COLLEGE OF CRIMINOLOGY

Specialization: Dactyloscopy Name:

SAINT THERESA COLLEGE OF

Laboratory Activity
Rating:

Fingerprint Patterns

Objective: To familiarize the three (3) major fingerprint patterns and its
requisites as well as the eight sub-patterns of fingerprints.

Key words: Radial loop, Ulnar loop, Plain Arch, Tented arch, Plain whorl,
Double loop whorl, Central Pocket loop whorl, and Accidental whorl.

Activity 1 Draw the pattern asked in the following boxes.

Plain Arch Tented Arch Radial Loop Ulnar Loop

Plain Whorl Double Loop Whorl Central Pocket Accidental Whorl

Loop Whorl
 Course: BS Criminology TANDAG, INC COLLEGE OF CRIMINOLOGY
Specialization: Dactyloscopy Name:
SAINT THERESA COLLEGE OF

Laboratory Activity Rating:

Activity 2 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is the frequency distribution of the three major divisions of

fingerprint patterns? (present it in a pie diagram)

2. What is the frequency distribution of the sub-groups of fingerprint

patterns? (provide a pie diagram for each group)

Arch Group

Loop Patterns

Whorl Patterns
 Course: BS Criminology TANDAG, INC COLLEGE OF CRIMINOLOGY
Specialization: Dactyloscopy Name:
SAINT THERESA COLLEGE OF

Laboratory Activity Rating:

Activity 3 Define or describe the following keywords

1. Radial loop - This pattern is similar to the ulnar loop, but the difference is
the turns point toward the thumb instead of the small finger.

2. Ulnar loop -) A fingerprint or palm print pattern that consists of a loop
which opens toward the ulna side of the hand (toward the pinkie).

3. Plain Arch- A plain arch is that type of pattern in which the ridges enter
upon one side, make a rise or wave in the center and flow or tend to flow
out upon the opposite side. A plain arch cannot have a looping ridge, an
upthrust or a recurve 1.

4. Tented arch- Any fingerprint pattern that has at least two of the three
basic requirements of a good loop pattern (sufficient recurve, delta, and
ridge count across a looping ridge) is classified as a tented arch. When
two independent ridges come together and form an angle, the resulting
pattern may be called a tented arch.

5. Plain whorl- A plain whorl consists of one or more ridges which make or
tend to make a complete circuit, with two or more deltas, between which,
when an imaginary line is drawn, at least one recurving ridge within the
inner pattern area is cut or touched.

6. Double loop whorl - A double loop whorl consists of two separate loop

formations with two separate and distinct sets of shoulders and two
deltas.

7. Central Pocket loop whorl –The ridges in this pattern re-curve to surround
the central whorl.

8. Accidental whorl- An accidental whorl consists of a combination of two

different types of patterns with the exception of the plain arch, with two or
 more deltas or a pattern which possesses some of the requirements for two
or more different types or a pattern which conforms to none of the definitions.

Course: BS Criminology TANDAG, INC COLLEGE OF CRIMINOLOGY

Specialization: Dactyloscopy Name:
SAINT THERESA COLLEGE OF

Laboratory Activity Rating:

Fingerprint Classification

Objective: To apply the rules in deriving the fingerprint classification of a

given set of fingerprint patterns.
A. Primary Classification

Key words: Primary Classification, Blocking, Pairing,

Numerator and Denominator

Activity 1 Enumerate the steps in deriving the primary

classification

Ans: PRIMARY – The primary classification is obtained through the

summation of the value of the whorl type patterns as they appear in

the various fingers: Even numbered fingers (2, 4, 6, 8 and 10), being

used as the numerator and odd numbered fingers (1, 3, 5, 7 and 9),

as the denominator.

Activity 2 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is the primary classification of a set of fingerprint pattern if all

are identified to
be coming from the whorl family?

Ans: The primary classification system is a 10-finger system. Therefore

it must be used when prints from both hands are available. Using this
method, all of the fingerprints in the world could be divided into 1,024
groups. Fingers on each hand are given an identifying number.

2. What is the lowest possible primary classification in a fingerprint

record?
 Ans: To overcome this problem of getting a 0/0 value, '1' is added to
both numerator and denominator. Therefore, the primary group value
cannot be zero, and the lowest possible value would be 1/1.

Course: BS Criminology TANDAG, INC COLLEGE OF CRIMINOLOGY

Specialization: Dactyloscopy Name:
SAINT THERESA COLLEGE OF

Laboratory Activity
Rating:

Activity 3 Define or describe the following keywords.

1. Primary Classification - Is the summation of all numerical value assigned to

WHORLS ( Plain Whorl, Central Pocket Loop, Double Loop and Accidental
Whorl ) appearing in a fingerprint chart Primary Fingerprint Classifications come in
the form of a fraction, such as 1/13, 23/2, etc. The numerator and denominator of the
fraction are arrived at by adding values associated with each of the 10 fingers.

2. Blocking - means designating by symbols the type of pattern which each finger
and thumb bears and recording these symbols on the fingerprint card in the
block provided for each respective finger and thumb.

3. Pairing - The 10 fingerprints from the corresponding fingers are divided into
pairs
Pairing of two fingers and assigns the numerical values to the patterns.

4. Numerator- The number two finger is used as the numerator and the number
seven finger is used as the denominator. The Secondary is brought up to the
classification line to the right of the primary.

5. Denominator- The denominator is made up of the total sum of the values present
 in the odd numbered fingers (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) plus one.

Activity 4 Figure out the primary classification of the following problems.

1. Answer:

X / C T W

U D X / A

Course: BS Criminology TANDAG, INC COLLEGE OF CRIMINOLOGY

Specialization: Dactyloscopy Name:
SAINT THERESA COLLEGE OF

Laboratory Activity
Rating:
 2. Answer:

/ C A A /

\ D X / \

3. Answer:

X Amp C T W

\ D X MB A

Course: BS Criminology TANDAG, INC COLLEGE OF CRIMINOLOGY

Specialization: Dactyloscopy Name:
SAINT THERESA COLLEGE OF

Laboratory Activity Rating:

B. Secondary Classification
Keywords: Secondary classification, Capital letter group, Small letter

group, ART, dash Activity 1 Enumerate the rules observed in

deriving the secondary classification.

Ans: The Secondary is brought up to the classification line to the right of the

primary. Prints with an arch (a), tented arch (t) or radial loop (r) in any finger

except the index fingers constitute the Small Letter Group of the secondary

classification. Small letters consist of a, t, and r only.

Activity 2 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What set of fingers are involved in deriving the secondary
classification?

Ans: The Secondary is composed of the pattern types present in the index

fingers (2 and 7). The number two finger is used as the numerator and the
number seven finger is used as the denominator. The Secondary is brought up to
the classification line to the right of the primary.

2. What are the symbols to be used in representing the fingers for the
capital letter group?

Ans: The secondary classification is the type of pattern appearing in

the index fingers. SMALL LETTERS – Small letters are brought up on the
classification line in their relative positions to the index finger.
 Course: BS Criminology TANDAG, INC COLLEGE OF CRIMINOLOGY
Specialization: Dactyloscopy Name:
SAINT THERESA COLLEGE OF

Laboratory Activity
Rating:

Activity 3 Define or describe the following keywords.

1. Secondary classification - This is done by exhibiting the CAPITAL LETTER

symbol of the individual type of fingerprint patterns from the two (2) INDEX
fingers after the primary in the classification line. The fingerprint pattern
appearing in the right index finger in the NUMERATOR while the fingerprint from
the left Index is the DENOMINATOR. A combination of the following symbols
may come out. Secondary Classification: Capital Letters Group: Index fingers
patterns designated by capital letters. Small Letter Group: All fingers other than
the index finger. Designated by small letters

2. Capital letter group- Capital Letters Group: Index fingers patterns designated by
capital letters. Small Letter Group: All fingers other than the index finger.

3. Small letter group - Small letters consist of a, t, and r only. Small letters are
brought up to the classification in their respective relative positions to the index
finger (2 and 7) when appearing in fingers 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10.
 4. ART - The State of the Art in Fingerprint Classification. 185. Fig. 9.2. Top: two
fingerprints belonging to different classes (left loop and a tented arch)

5. Dash- Dashes are used in the classification formula to indicate an ulnar loop or a
whorl intervening between the index finger and the first small letter, or between two
small letters.

Activity 4 Figure out the secondary classification of the following problems.

1. Answer:

X / C T W

U D X / A

Course: BS Criminology TANDAG, INC COLLEGE OF CRIMINOLOGY

Specialization: Dactyloscopy Name:
SAINT THERESA COLLEGE OF

Laboratory Activity
Rating:
 2. Answer:

/ C A A /

\ D X / \

3. Answer:

X Amp C T W

\ D X MB A

C. Sub-secondary Classification

Keywords: Sub-secondary classification, Ridge Counting and Ridge

Tracing

Activity 1 Enumerate the rules observed in deriving the sub-

secondary classification.

Ans: The Major Division

The Final
The Key
Activity 2 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What set of fingers are involved in deriving the sub-secondary

classification?
Ans: Right Index (finger #2), right middle (finger #3), right
ring (finger #4), left index (finger #7), left middle (finger #8)
and left ring (finger#9) are included in sub secondary
classification of fingerprints.

2. What are the rules in ridge counting?

Ans: - If there is a bifurcation of a ridge exactly at the point where

the imaginary line would be drawn, two ridges are counted. -
Fragments &dots are counted if they appear as thick as the
neighbouring ridges.

2. What are the rules in Ridge tracing?

Ans: When the traced ridge meets the corresponding ridge of
the right delta or goes inside or outside, with not more than two
ridges intervening between them, the Whorl is specialised as
Meeting (M).

Activity 3 Define or describe the following keywords.

1. Sub-secondary classification
Ans: The sub-secondary classification is the value of the ridge counts or
tracings. of fingers 2, 3, 4, 7, 8 and 9. MAJOR – The major classification is the
value of the ridge counts or the tracings of fingers 1 & 6. FINAL – The final is the
ridge count of the right little finger if it is a loop.

2. Ridge Counting
Ans: The ridge count is calculated by counting the number of ridges intervening
between the delta and core [19]. In the proposed method, instead of considering
counting only between the core and delta, an effort is taken to count the ridges of
the entire fingertip

3. Ridge Tracing

Ans: The course of the lower ridge of the delta, is followed and it will be found
either to meet or to go inside or to go outside the corresponding ridge of the delta. - If
the course of the ridge ends abruptly, the course of the next ridge below it is to be
followed
Activity 4 Figure out the sub-secondary classification of the following problems.

1. Answer:

X / C T W
15 ridge counts 4 tracings
Above right
delta

U \ X / A
9 ridge counts 2 tracings 8 ridge counts

2. Answer:

/ C / A /
4 tracings 11 ridge counts
Below right
delta

\ D W / \
1 tracing 10 ridge counts

3. Answer:

X Amp C T W
3 tracings
In front right
delta

\ D X MB A
5 tracings 2 tracings
above right
delta

D. Major Classification

Keywords: Major classification, IMO, SML

Activity 1 Enumerate the rules observed in deriving the major classification.

-The Major is taken from the thumbs. The Major is brought up to the classification line to
the left of the primary. Number six finger has only one set of values as a loop; it is
always constant. Number one finger has two sets of values as a loop
Activity 2 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What set of fingers are involved in deriving the major classification?
- The Major is taken from the thumbs. The Major is brought up to the
classification line to the left of the primary. Number six finger has only one set
of values as a loop; it is always constant. Number one finger has two sets of
values as a loop.
2. What are the two tables used in deriving the major classification?
- the major is brought up on the classification line to the left of the primary. C.
Number one finger has two sets of values as a loop and is used .
Table A Scale Table B Scale

Activity 3 Define or describe the following keywords.

1. Major classification - There are three different types of fingerprints: patent,

plastic, or latent.

2. IMO Classification -

3. SML Classification

Activity 4 Figure out the major classification of the following problems.

1. Answer on the box

 18
RC

16
RC

2. Answer on the box

15
RC

19
RC

3. Answer on the box

C
4 tracings
Below
right
delta

16
RC

4. Answer on the box

W
2 tracings
 19
RC

E. Final Classification

Keywords: Final classification, Ridge Counting of Whorls

Activity 1 State the rules observed in deriving the final classification.

Activity 2 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What finger or set of fingers are involved in deriving the final

classification?

2. What process is done if both little fingers come from the whorl

family? 3. Where is the derived final classification exhibited in the

classification line/formula

Activity 3 Define or describe the following keywords.

1. Final classification
 2. Ridge Counting of Whorls

Activity 4 Figure out the final classification of the following problems.

1. Answer in the box

15
RC of \

16
RC of /

2. Answer in the box

5
RC of whorl

19
RC of loop

Course: BS Criminology TANDAG, INC COLLEGE OF CRIMINOLOGY

Specialization: Dactyloscopy Name:
SAINT THERESA COLLEGE OF

Laboratory Activity Rating:

3. Answer in the box

4. Answer in the box

 A

11
RC of W

F. Key Classification

Keywords: Key classification, First Loop pattern, First whorl pattern

Activity 1 State the rules observed in deriving the key classification.

Activity 2 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What finger or fingerprint patterns are considered in deriving the key

classification?

2. What process is done in deriving the key classification?

3. Where is the derived key classification exhibited in the classification

line/formula?

Activity 3 Define or describe the following keywords.

1. Key classification
 2. First Loop pattern

3. First whorl pattern

Activity 4 Figure out the key classification of the following problems.

1. Answer:

X / C T W
15 ridge counts 4 tracings
Above right
delta

U \ X / A
9 ridge counts 2 tracings 8 ridge counts

2. Answer:

/ C / A /
13 ridge counts 4 tracings 11 ridge counts
Below right
delta
 \ D W / \
2 tracings 1 tracing 10 ridge counts

3. Answer:

X Amp C T W
3 tracings
In front right
delta

\ D X MB A
10 ridge counts 5 tracings 2 tracings
above right
delta

4. Answer:

W C D A /
13 ridge counts 4 tracings 11 ridge counts 14 ridge counts
Below right
delta

X D W W \
1 tracing 10 ridge counts

G. Second Sub-secondary Classification

Keywords: Second sub-classification, All loop pattern

Activity 1 State the rules observed in deriving the sub-secondary classification.
- Values of sub secondary division are computed based on the ridge trace or counts of
whorls and loops in the index, middle and ring finger of both hands. Based on the
trace and counts values respective symbols are allocated to obtain sub secondary
values.

Activity 2 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

 1. What fingers or fingerprint patterns are considered in deriving the
second sub-secondary classification?
- The Secondary is composed of the pattern types present in the index
fingers (2 and 7). The number two finger is used as the numerator and the
number seven finger is used as the denominator. The Secondary is brought
up to the classification line to the right of the primary.

2. What process is done in deriving the key classification?

- The Key is always brought up above the classification line, regardless of the finger
used. If there are no loops present there is no Key.

2. Where is the derived sub-secondary classification exhibited in the

classification line/formula?
- The sub-secondary is taken from fingers 2,3 and 4 for the numerator and
7, 8 and 9 for the denominator. B. The sub-secondary is brought up on the
classification line to the right of the secondary.

Activity 3 Define or describe the following keywords.

1. Second sub-secondary classification - The sub-secondary classification is the

value of the ridge counts or tracings. of fingers 2, 3, 4, 7, 8 and 9. MAJOR – The
major classification is the value of the ridge counts or the tracings of fingers 1 &
6. FINAL – The final is the ridge count of the right little finger if it is a loop.

2. First Loop pattern- Radial loops are pointed towards the radial bone or thumb.
Ulnar loops are pointed towards the ulnar bone or pinky finger. Loops make up
about 60% of all fingerprint patterns.

Activity 4 Figure out the key classification of the following problems.

1. Answer:

/ / / / /
10 ridge counts 5 ridge counts 9 ridge counts 10 ridge counts 15 ridge counts

/ \ / / /
18 ridge counts 9 ridge counts 5 ridge counts 8 ridge counts 15 ridge counts

2. Answer:
 / \ / \ \
13 ridge counts 9 ridge counts 11 ridge counts 9 ridge counts 9 ridge counts

\ \ \ / \
9 ridge counts 4 ridge counts 7 ridge counts 11 ridge counts 8 ridge counts

Fingerprint Impression Development

Objective: To demonstrate the competencies and skills in development of

different fingerprint impressions.
Key words: Fingerprint, Latent print, Patent print, Plastic print, Mechanical
Method and Chemical Method

Activity 1 Create a Quick Guide in Latent Print Development with the

consideration of different surface characteristics.
Surface Method
Name:
Correct Application:

Name:
Correct Application:
 Name:
Correct Application:

Laboratory Worksheets in Personal Identification

Page 35 of38
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Laboratory Activity

Activity 2 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What are the three kinds of Fingerprint impressions?
- Latent, Patent, and Plastic.

2. How are fingerprint impressions formed?

- A person's fingerprints do not change over time. The friction ridges which
create fingerprints are formed while inside their mother's womb and grow as the
baby grows.

Activity 3 Define or describe the following keywords.

1. Fingerprint - A fingerprint is an impression left by the friction ridges of a human

finger. The recovery of partial fingerprints from a crime scene is an important method of
forensic science. Moisture and grease on a finger result in fingerprints on surfaces such
as glass or metal.

2. Latent print- A latent print is an impression of the friction skin of the fingers or
palms of the hands that has been transferred to another surface. The permanent and
unique arrangement of the features of this skin allows for the identification of an
individual to a latent print.
 3. Patent print - Patent Prints are an art form that fuses together fascinating
historical patent line art with a background that you select to make unique pieces of
art for your home or office.

4. Plastic print- Plastic fingerprints are three-dimensional impressions and can be

made by pressing your fingers in fresh paint, wax, soap, or tar. Just like patent
fingerprints, plastic fingerprints are easily seen by the human eye and do not require
additional processing for visibility purposes.

5. Mechanical Method- Students will discover

the methods behind fingerprinting crime scenes using crushed mechanical pencil lead
as fingerprint powder. Modeling the Procedure.

6. Chemical Method- Chemical methods for the enhancement of residual blood

fingerprints, have been successfully used for years. Leucomalachite green, amido
black, and ninhydrin chemically react with components in blood to form a dark-
colored dye complex and have all been used successfully on light-colored or
transparent surfaces.

Laboratory Worksheets in Personal Identification

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Laboratory Activity

Activity 4 Mechanical and chemical Development

Instructions:

1. Collect the following materials for the actual development and lifting of
fingerprint impressions: soda cans, dvd-disc/cd disc, monoblock chair,
bond paper, coffee mug, knife, unfinished wood, plastic packaging
material, adhesive-coated material and pvc pipe.
2. Put on your fingerprint impressions on the above mentioned materials.
Vary the conditions of transferring your prints such as clean or dirty
hands.
3. Review the quick guide you have created and start developing
the impressions and subsequently lift the same and preserve.
4. Follow the standard procedure in the preservation of fingerprint
evidence and accomplish the evidence tag for proper labeling. See
 illustration below:

Laboratory Worksheets in Personal Identification

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