Poroscopy and Edgeoscopy

• In 1973, the identification community in North America embraced a

new standard for friction ridge identification.
• The first level of detail is ridge flow which includes pattern type, ridge
count and focal areas such as core, delta and orientation.
• Individualization or matching the print, cannot occur at this level.
• Level two is ridge path also known as Galton details, and commonly
known as “points”. This includes ridge ending, dots, bifurcation’s,
combinations of above and their relationship to one another.
• Individualization can occur at this level.

• Poroscopy and edgeoscopy both involve third level detail and are
used by latent examiners at regular basis, even without their
conscious knowledge.
• In 1914, Locard published assumptions in relation to fingerprint identification and the standards
which are used to reassure dependability founded upon the statistical analysis. His study presented
the given tripartite rule that:
1. The certainty of identify becomes beyond debate, if more than 12 concurring points are existing.
2. If 8 to 12 concurring points are present, then the case is marginal and the inevitability of
individuality will depend on:
a) The clarity of the finger prints;
b) The rarity of its form;
c) The core and the delta in the available part of the print is present;
d) The presence of pores (Poroscopy);
e) The papillary ridges and valleys, the direction of the lines, and the angular value of the junctions
(Ridgeology/Edgeoscopy).
3. If lesser number of characteristic are found, then the finger prints will not provide identification
but only an assumption to the number of points available and their clarity.
• These observations were generalized by Steinwender in 1958 regarding the value
of 12-point threshold. But in several cases, the fingerprint impressions are
incomplete, smudged, and disconnected or defective due to various reason i.e. the
essential number of ridge characteristics are not available. It is a great handicap
for the experts to give opinion on identity in such cases.
• In such of situations there is a need to include the third level details
i.e. number, shape and relative position of sweat pores and shapes of
the edges of the ridges.
• Locard (1912) considered pores (Poroscopy) which is found on the
finger ridges and they are use in the individualization process. He also
understood the importance of the form of edges of the ridges which
are also permanent features like any other ridge characteristic and is
called Edgeoscopy.
Poroscopy
• Poroscopy: in fingerprint work, Poroscopy is the term applied to a specialized
study of pore structure found on the papillary ridges of the skin as a means of
identification.
• Poroscopy is a method of personal identification through the comparison of the
impressions of sweat pores (present on friction ridges of palmar and plantar
surfaces)
• The science of poroscopy was established by Dr. Edmond Locard of Lyon,
France in 1912.
• Locard observed that like the ridge characteristics, the pores are also
permanent, immutable and individual, and these are useful to establish the
identity or otherwise of individuals when available ridges do not provide
sufficient ridge characteristics.
• French criminologist Edmond Locard discovered the method of establishing identity by
comparison of the sweat pores on palmer and planter surfaces are known as Poroscopy. These
pores appear as minute openings on the mouth of the ducts of sweat glands. Sweat pores have
great individual differences and they are persistent throughout life.
• Certain factors such as quantity and quality of the ink used, the degree of the pressure applied in
taking an inked print or how an article is touched, the smoothness of the friction skin etc. affects
the visibility of sweat pores.
• Sweat pores are situated on the ridges and vary in:-
a) Shape of the pores
b) Size of the pores
c) Position of the pores
d) Number of pores per unit area
e) Distance between Pores (Interspacing)
a) Shape of Pores
• Pores on the same ridge was found to be of different shape as
following:
[I] Rounded
[ii] Rhomboid
[iii] Elliptical
[iv] Square
[v] Rectangular.
• In each area, the frequency of all these type of pores was determined
by counting the number of pores of a particular shape
b) Size of Pores
Size of the pores was determined by comparing the pores with the largest pore in the print
and divided as:
1. minute
2. medium and
3. large.
c) Position of the Pores on the ridge
• Position of the pores on a ridge was determined by noting whether the pore was situated
in the center of the ridge or on the periphery of the ridge.
• If lying on the periphery, the pore could either be an open type, i.e. with an open mouth
towards furrow or just lying on the periphery with closed, well defined boundary, i.e.
closed type.
d) Number of Pores
• Under 50x magnification, average length of a ridge under view was
found to be about 0.5 cm.
• Pores were counted on the ridges at random and average number of
pores per centimeter of ridge was calculated.
e) Distance between Pores (Interspacing)
• The spacing between the pores was calculated on the basis of number of pores in per unit area and
their configuration, they were classified as:
• a) Pores with close interspacing : Where pores were lying very close to each other and more than
twelve pores were present on 1 cm. ridge length.
• b) Pores in groups with close interspacing : The pores lying in the groups of two or more than
two number of pores on 1 cm. ridge length were classified as pores in groups.
• c) Pores with distant interspacing: The number of pores present on one centimeter ridge length
ranged from 8 to 11 and the space between the pores was comparatively more.
• d) Pores with chain like formation : In this type of configuration, the pores were connected with
each other making a chain like appearance and there was no interspacing present between the two
pores.
Edgeoscopy
• Edgeoscopy as an identification process where the characteristics of the edges of
the ridges of friction skin would be compared and evaluated.
• These characteristics are the alignment and shape of the individual ridge unit.
• The edges of ridges are also unique and are persistent like ridges and pores.
• Edgeoscopy was first presented in 1962 by Salil Chatterjee of India
• Salil Chatterjee published an article titled ‘Edgeoscopy’ in the September 1962
edition of ‘Identification’. He believed that the characteristics on the side of
fingerprint ridges are persistent and unique and could be of benefit in the
identification process. Ridge edge features are formed from the differential growth
factors on the ridge edge or the affect on the ridge edge of a pore which is nearby.
• Chatterjee proposed a system of 7 categories into which he believed the majority of
ridge edge characteristics could be classified. The definitions as taken from the article:
• 1) Straight – the edge is straight
• 2) Convex – the edge is convex shaped
• 3) Peak – the edge is protruding with the base wider than the pointed top
• 4) Table – edge is protruding with the base narrow and a broad flat top
• 5) Pocket – When the edge looks like a pocket with a sweat pore having one side open
• 6) Concave – the edge is concave, generally joining two other edge characteristics
• 7) Angle – Edge is like an angle joining two other edge characteristics
• 8) Infinite – any characteristics other than those mentioned above