Forensic Science - Fingerprint Review Questions with Verified Answers Latest Update 2024
the study of fingerprints - Answers Dactylography
Inked fingerprint is made of dark and white patterns called - Answers Dermal or friction ridges
The function of ridges on fingerprints - Answers Grip objects
When and how do fingerprints form ? - Answers In the fetus, is the basal layer layer cells grow faster
than before so it folds on eachother and creates prints
What are the two types of glands in the subcutaneous skin ? Which is responsible for latent
fingerprints ? - Answers Apocrine and eccrine glands ( a responsible for latent)
What is the name of the center of a loop or whorl that forensic examiners look for on a fingerprint ? -
Answers Core
What is the name for the triangular region located near a loop ? - Answers Delta
What are the three basic fingerprint patterns? - Answers Arch, loop, whorl
Which finger print pattern is most common? Least common? - Answers Loop & Arch
Describe the two types of arch fingerprints - Answers Tented: has spike in the center
Plain: subtle arch ridges enter one side and exit the other
Describe the two types of loop fingerprints be able to identify for both left and right hand, based on the
bones of the arms - Answers Ulnar: The delta is on the right side Loop opens towards the right or the
ulna bone
Radial: the delta is on the left side Loop opens towards the left or the radial bone
Describe the four types of whorl fingerprints - Answers Plain: Two deltas on the respective sides
Centered Loop: When visible Delta on either side and a smaller delta further up
Double Loop: made up of any two loops combined into one print
Accidental: does not clearly fall under any of the other categories
Unique reach patterns used to identify fingerprints are called? How many of these unique patterns must
match to be used in court? - Answers Minutiae & 12 or more
Know the names of the minutiae - Answers Ending ridge, bifurcation, trifurcation, Island, short Ridge,
bridge, dot, double bifurcation, spur
Describe how to take a ridge count - Answers An imaginary line is drawn from the center of the court to
the edge of the Delta intersecting ridges are counted
the study of fingerprints - Answers Dactylography
Inked fingerprint is made of dark and white patterns called - Answers Dermal or friction ridges
The function of ridges on fingerprints - Answers Grip objects
When and how do fingerprints form ? - Answers In the fetus, is the basal layer layer cells grow faster
than before so it folds on eachother and creates prints
What are the two types of glands in the subcutaneous skin ? Which is responsible for latent
fingerprints ? - Answers Apocrine and eccrine glands ( a responsible for latent)
What is the name of the center of a loop or whorl that forensic examiners look for on a fingerprint ? -
Answers Core
What is the name for the triangular region located near a loop ? - Answers Delta
What are the three basic fingerprint patterns? - Answers Arch, loop, whorl
Which finger print pattern is most common? Least common? - Answers Loop & Arch
Describe the two types of arch fingerprints - Answers Tented: has spike in the center
Plain: subtle arch ridges enter one side and exit the other
Describe the two types of loop fingerprints be able to identify for both left and right hand, based on the
bones of the arms - Answers Ulnar: The delta is on the right side Loop opens towards the right or the
ulna bone
Radial: the delta is on the left side Loop opens towards the left or the radial bone
Describe the four types of whorl fingerprints - Answers Plain: Two deltas on the respective sides
Centered Loop: When visible Delta on either side and a smaller delta further up
Double Loop: made up of any two loops combined into one print
Accidental: does not clearly fall under any of the other categories
Unique reach patterns used to identify fingerprints are called? How many of these unique patterns must
match to be used in court? - Answers Minutiae & 12 or more
Know the names of the minutiae - Answers Ending ridge, bifurcation, trifurcation, Island, short Ridge,
bridge, dot, double bifurcation, spur
Describe how to take a ridge count - Answers An imaginary line is drawn from the center of the court to
the edge of the Delta intersecting ridges are counted
