Isabela State University | ECHAGUE

Criminal Justice Education Department

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PART 3
RIDGE CHARACTERISTICS
“Galton Details”
“Minutial Points”
“Points of Identity”
“Minutiae”
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Ridge Characteristics Diverging Ridges

Identification of fingerprints relies on pattern matching ✓ Are two ridges running side by side and
followed by the detection of certain ridge suddenly separating, one ridge going one way
characteristics, also known as Galton details, points of and the other ridge going another way.
identity, or minutial points with a reference print,
usually an inked impression of a suspects print.
IMPORTANT TERMS:

Type lines Type lines

✓ The two
outermost
ridges which Converging ridge
tend to ✓ A ridge formation whose closed end is angular
surround the and serves as a point of convergence, usually
pattern area. pointed and abrupt forming a “V” shape.

✓ The basic
boundaries of most fingerprint patterns.

✓ The skeleton of each pattern.

Pattern Area Recurving Ridges (also known as looping ridges)

✓ The ridges that curve back from which it started
✓ The area
in the horizontal baseline.
surrounded by
the typelines.
PATTERN
✓ The area of a ARBA
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.
Shoulders of a Loop
✓ The two points where the looping ridge start
Point of Divergence (also known as Area of and ends its curve.
Divergence)

✓ The area where

delta can be
found inside the
two diverging
ridges.

Area of
divergence

Personal Identification Techniques

Reginald C. Sibug, MS CRIM.
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