Course Outline on

Fingerprint Identification

Topics:

A. Fingerprints: An Overview

In fingerprint science, the contents stresses that learners must be engaged in actual
practice of Dactyloscopy so that they achieve not only theoretical competence,
knowledge of the rules of Dactyloscopy, but also application competence and knowledge
of the rules for using Dactyloscopy.

The convictions of an accused now a day are very hard to achieve due to available
intelligent counsels but with the presentation of evidence cognizable by the courts
especially fingerprints there is an assurance for justice.

1. Nature of Fingerprints

Every human being has a unique formation of ridges in his fingers, palm and sole
of feet. Every print differs from each other due to the ridge details print in each
print. Every person’s fingerprints are unique, hence, they be used for personal
identification.

There are no two fingerprints in the world that are exactly alike. The same
through with the principle that no two persons in the world with the same
fingerprints. It means that no two fingers out of all the millions that have been
examined through their prints, have ever been found to be alike. Nature never
duplicates anything in all its details. Nature does provide similar things, but not
identical things.

Many people believe that fingerprints are primarily used as a device to apprehend
criminals rather than a means to identify them after they are caught. But the far
greater value of fingerprints as an index to the identity of known criminals often
escapes layman entirely.

a. Fingerprint and Fingerprinting, Defined

Fingerprint – is an impression designed by the ridges on the inside of

the end joint of the fingers and thumb on any smooth surface through the
media of ink, sweat or any reagent capable of producing visibility.

Fingerprinting – is a method of identification using the impression

made by the minute ridge formations or patterns found on the fingertips of
a person.

i. Divisions of phalanges of Fingers

A fingerprint is a composite of the ridge outlines which appear on

the skin surface of the bulbs on the inside of the end joints of the
fingers and thumb. Each finger of a human being has three
 divisions or phalanges, namely proximate/baslar phalange; middle
phalange; and end joint or terminal phalange.

A normal person has ten (10) fingers namely, thumb, index, middle,
ring and little fingers. The tips of each of the finger is called bulb
that contains the elevated portion of the skin called ridges.

b. Friction Skin

Friction Skin – is an epidermal hairless skin found on the ventral or

lower surface of the hands and feet covered with minute ridges and
furrows and without pigment or coloring matters. It is also called
epidermal or papillary skin. The ridges have definite contour and appear
in several ridge formations or patterns, each possessing definite individual
detail by which positive identification can be made.

Ninety-five percent (95%) of the body skin is smooth and relatively

featureless, apart from hairs, pores and creases. The remaining five
percent (5%) covering the palm of the hands and soles of the feet is
markedly different. These areas although often creased and containing
many pores are completely hairless and covered by numerous small lines
formed by the ridges of the skin and their consequent furrows.

i. Components of the Friction kin

1. Ridge Surface - is the component of the skin that

actually forms the fingerprint impression.

a. Ridges – are tiny elevation or hill like structures

found on the epidermis layer of the skin containing
sweat pores. They appear as black lines with tiny
white dots called pores in an inked impression.

b. Furrows – are the canal-like impression or a

depression found between the ridges which may be
compared with the low area in a tire thread. They
appear as white lines in an inked impression.

2. Sweat Pores – are small opening found anywhere across

the ridge surface but it can usually found near the center.
They are sometimes called islands with color white in plain
impression.

3. Sweat Duct – is a long-hose like structure that serves as

the passage way for the sweat.

4. Sweat Gland – is found in the dermis layer of the skin

which is responsible for the production of the sweat.
c. Layers of Skin

The human skin is composed of different parts such as:

Epidermal/Epidermis Layer – is an outer layer covering of the skin.

Its layers are the following:

1. Stratum Corneum/Corneus Layer - is the outer layer of the

epidermis layer of the skin.

2. Stratum Mucosum/Transparent layer – is the layer

immediately beneath the covering layer.

3. Stratum Lucidum/Granucar Layer – is present in thick skin

such as the lips, soles of the feet and palms of hands where little or
no cell is visible.

4. Stratum Granulosum – consists of 3-4 layers of cell thick,

consisting of flattened keratinocytes. At this level, the cell are dying.

5. Stratum Spinosum/Malphigian Layer – consists of

keratinocytes which is referred to as living layer.

6. Stratum Basale/Generating Layer – is a single layer of cells

which is in contact with the basement membrane. These cells are
mitotically active, alive and reproducing.

Dermal Papillae/Dermis – is the inner layer of the skin containing

blood vessels, arrector pili muscles, sebaceous glands, sweat glands and
nerves.

Subcutaneous Layer/Hypodermis –is the innermost layer of skin

that also contains blood vessels, connective tissue, nerves and fat lobules
(a rounded division or projection of an organ or part in the body,
especially in the lungs, brain, or liver).

i. Causes of Destruction of Ridges

Ridges of the fingerprints of a human being start to form from the

third (3rd) to fourth (4th) month from Conception, and the ridges are
fully formed in about six (6) months. Fingerprints remain constant
until during the decomposition stage of the skin of the corpse. The
fingerprint size is the one that change as man grows but its ridge
characteristics and pattern remains the same (Scott, 1978).

Note that damage to the epidermis alone does not result to

permanent ridge destruction while damage to the dermis will result
to permanent ridge destruction. According to Manlusoc (2008), the
following are factors that affect the formation of ridges, such as:
 a. Manual Works. - Persons who use chemical like lime,
cement, plasters such as electric shop workers and assembly
workers usually cause temporary destruction of the tissues
that may affect the formation of ridges in the fingers.

b. Skin Diseases. - This may cause temporary destruction

similar with those persons handling lime and cement such
destruction ceases the moment that the disease has been
cured.

c. Warts. - Fibrous growths in the skin are easily

distinguished in impressions by the appearance of a light
spot. Usually encircled by a black ring. Warts do not destroy
the ridges just like creases. Warts are not permanent, when
they are removed from the ridges, they assume their natural
conditions without even the appearance of a scar.

d. Burns. - Severe burns may leave a scar and will change

the appearance of the skin and totally destroy the ridges. In
fact, the destruction of the sweat glands will change the skin
surface, leaving a scar in some form.

e. Scars. - May appear as thin white lines with the ridges

slightly puckered on both sides of the scar.

d. Principles of Fingerprints

Scientists and researchers on fingerprints have come up with several

principles underlying the science of fingerprints and have the following
principles, such as:

i. Principles of Permanency. - It states that fingerprints are

unchanging or constant from birth until the decomposition of the
body of the person. This is sometimes called as “Principles of
Constancy/Persistency.”

ii. Principle of Individuality. - It explains that “there are no two

fingerprints from two individuals that are exactly alike,” except if
two fingerprints were taken from the same finger and the same
person. Two fingerprints maybe alike in its pattern or design but
considering its minute characteristics, they differ.

iii. Principles of Infallibility. - It states that fingerprints are the

most reliable means of personal identification. It is for the reason
that fingerprints are permanent, therefore, they cannot be forged or
changed.

Justifications have been advanced in support of the principle of the

infallibility, such as:
 a. Fingerprints remain unchanged throughout life until the
final stage of decomposition of a person after death as
proven by the principle of permanency.

b. The pattern formulation formed by the papillary ridges

contains peculiar characteristics upon which the person can
always be identified by the fingerprint examiner.

c. Almost every police and law enforcement agencies

throughout the world accept, adopt and utilize a fingerprint
system as a means of identifying suspects/criminals.

d. Admissibility of fingerprint by expert testimony as to the

identity of thumb mark of fingerprint is infallible.

e. Fingerprints are very reliable means to identify individual

due to the fact that it cannot be forged nor substituted by any
natural means.

e. Research on Fingerprints

i. Dactyloscopy. - is the Science that deals with the study of

Fingerprints as means of Personal Identification. It involves manual
comparison of fingerprints to determine the identity of a person as
well as classification of his fingerprints. The word Dactyloscopy was
derived from two Greek words, “Dactyl” which means “finger”
and “Scopein” which means “to study or examine.” Therefore,
Dactyloscopy means the study of fingers (Manlusoc, 2008).

ii. Dactylography. – is the scientific study and analysis of

fingerprints as a means of identification.

iii. Dactylomancy. – is the study of fingerprints for the purpose

of interpreting one’s personality.

f. Fields of studies regarding prints

There are cases where fingerprints are not available as evidence against
the accused. Hence, other science like chiroscopy, podoscopy, poroscopy
and edgesoscopy may be used to provide evidence in the identification of
the accused.

i. Chiroscopy. – is the science of palm print identification. The

term was derived from two Greek words “cheir” which means “a
hand” and “skopein” which means “to examine” (Tubid, 1996). The
palm has the following patterns such as:

a. Thenar Zone. - is the large cushion area at the base of

the thumb. Patterns of loops, whorl or a combination of
 them may appear. On some palms there is no pattern in this
area, just the appearance of the straight ridges.

b. Hypothenar Zone. – refers to a large cushion area just

below the base of the little finger. This zone may contain a
loop or a whorl type pattern or no pattern at all. However,
there are ridges present.

c. Palmar Zone. – is the area at the base of the fingers

usually a broad delta is noticed at the base of each finger.
Patterns may appear between these deltas at the intervals
between the inter-digital spaces.

d. Carpal Delta Zone. – is the area about the center of the

palm, down near the wrist where a delta is frequently
present. For latent impression investigation, this may appear
on window sills, and counter or table tops when a suspect
requires support for climbing.

Levels of Palm

The palm has the following levels such as:

1. Distal side. – is towards the fingertips.

2. Proximal side. – is towards the wrist.
3. Radial side. – is the study of fingerprint patter
where a loop is shown having ridges flowing towards
the radius bone or thumbside.
4. Ulnar side. – is towards the side of the ulna bone
where the little finger rests.

ii. Podoscopy – is the science of footprints identification. Derived

from Greek words “podo” which means “the foot” and “skopein”
which means “to examine” (Tubid, 1996). The footprint has the
following patterns such as:

a. Ball Pattern Zone. - is found below the base of the big

toe. It may contain loops, whorls, or combination of these. In
some footprints, it may be devoid of any pattern and will
show a series of ridge formation running across the area.

b. Plantar Pattern Zone. – is the space below the base of

the four little toes beside the ball zone. It corresponds to the
palmar zone of palm prints.

c. Calcar Pattern Zone. – is the area located at the heel.

Infrequent patterns do show in this zone. What commonly
appear are plain striations of ridges running from one side to
the other.
 d. Tibial Side. – is an area in the tibial bone side of the foot
where the big toe is also located. It is very rare that a pattern
appears on this zone.

e. Fibular Side. – is located on the little toe side of the foot

just below the plantar zone.

d. Tread Area. – is an area which includes that portion of

the foot lying between the ball-plantar zones and calcar zone.
The fibular and tibial zone are found within the thread area.

iii. Poroscopy – is a science of fingerprinting which deals with the

study of the pore structure found on the papillary or friction ridge
of the skin for the purpose of identification. The terms was derived
from the greek words “poros” which “a pore” and “skopein” which
means “to examine.”

iv. Edgeoscopy – is the study of the edges of the ridges and

various shapes found therein (Tubid, 1996). Edgeoscopy has the
following characteristics:

a. Straight. - The edge is straight.

b. Concave. - The edge is concave, generally joining two

other edge is convex.

c. Convex. - The edge is convex.

d. Table. - The edge is protruding with a narrow base and a

broad flat top.

e. Peak. - The edge is protruding with brad base and a

pointed flat top.

f. Pocket. - The edge looks like a pocket with a seat pore

having one side open.

g. Angle. - The edge is an angle joining two other edge

characteristics.

iv. Ridgeology – is a new term that combines the related sciences

of poroscopy, edgeology, and ridge characteristics for the purpose of
positive identification of fingerprints (Tubid, 1996).

v. Dermatoglyphics – is the study of the lines, tracings, ridges of

the skin of fingers, palm and hands. Derived from the words,
“derma” which means “skin” and “glyphein” which means “to
study” (Cummins, 1992).