Introduction to Fingerprints
Fundamental Principles
Uniqueness
• A fingerprint is individual
• No two fingers have ever been found to be the same
• Persistence
• Fingerprints form in-utero
• Persist for sometime post-mortem
• Immutability
• Fingerprints remain unchanged through an individuals lifetime
Friction Ridge
Pattern found only on
• Marsupials
• Primate
• Specialised configuration of ridged skin
• Increased surface area
• Enhanced grip
• Sweat Pores
• Higher concentration in friction ridge skin
• Further enhances grip
• Provides the ability for latent fingermarks
, Fingerprint Anatomy
Fingerprints develop in-utero
From 4th month of gestation
Epidermis
Outer layers of skin
Dermis
• Inner layer of skin between epidermis and subcutaneous tissue
• Layer responsible for our individual Patterns
Fingerprint Classification
Gross classification
Broken down into smaller ridge characteristics
Two reference points
• Delta:
• Triangular section where the central and outer ridges diverge
• Core:
• Central lines of a fingerprint, Both important for conducting ridge/minutiae
counts and comparisons.
Fundamental Principles
Uniqueness
• A fingerprint is individual
• No two fingers have ever been found to be the same
• Persistence
• Fingerprints form in-utero
• Persist for sometime post-mortem
• Immutability
• Fingerprints remain unchanged through an individuals lifetime
Friction Ridge
Pattern found only on
• Marsupials
• Primate
• Specialised configuration of ridged skin
• Increased surface area
• Enhanced grip
• Sweat Pores
• Higher concentration in friction ridge skin
• Further enhances grip
• Provides the ability for latent fingermarks
, Fingerprint Anatomy
Fingerprints develop in-utero
From 4th month of gestation
Epidermis
Outer layers of skin
Dermis
• Inner layer of skin between epidermis and subcutaneous tissue
• Layer responsible for our individual Patterns
Fingerprint Classification
Gross classification
Broken down into smaller ridge characteristics
Two reference points
• Delta:
• Triangular section where the central and outer ridges diverge
• Core:
• Central lines of a fingerprint, Both important for conducting ridge/minutiae
counts and comparisons.
