Intro to Fingerprints

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.