PHILIPPINE COLLEGE OF CRIMINOLOGY

College of Criminal Justice

WEEK 8
THE EIGHT TYPES OF FINGERPRINT PATTERNS AND CLASSIFICATIONS

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILO):

At the end of the learning period, the students should be able to:
1. Analyze and interpret the different types of fingerprint patterns.

Fingerprint patterns may be divided into three (3) general groups of patterns, and each group has the same
general characteristics or family resemblance.

The three (3) Groups/Families of Fingerprint Patterns are:

1. Loops, composed of 60%
2. Arches, composed of 5%
3. Whorls, composed of 35%

The groups of fingerprint patterns were subdivided into sub-groups by means of smaller differences existing
between the patterns in the similar group.

This sub-division are the following:

I. Loop
a. Ulnar Loop
b. Radial Loop

II. Arches
a. Plain Arch
b. Tented Arch

III. Whorl
a. Plain Whorl
b. Central Pocket Loop Whorl
c. Double Loop Whorl
d. Accidental Whorl

I. Loop
A loop is that type of fingerprint pattern in which the ridges enter on either side of impression, recurve or
turning back on itself for one or more of the ridges; touch or cross an imaginary line drawn from delta to core;
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College of Criminal Justice

and terminate toward the same side of the impression from where such ridge or ridges entered. This type of
pattern was considered to be the most common of all and composed of about sixty (60) percent of all prints.

Elements of a Loop
1. It must have a delta;
2. It must have a core;
3. It must have a sufficient recurve; and 4. It must have a ridge count of at least one.

The terms Ulnar and Radial are derived from the two bones of the forearm radius bones and ulna bone. Loops
which the opening of sufficient recurve opens or flows in the direction of the ulna bone (towards the little finger)
are called ulnar loops; and those which the opening of sufficient recurve opens or flows in the direction of the
radius bone are called radial loops.

To differentiate an ulnar loop from a radial loop in the plain or rolled impression, it is important to know from
what hand the loop was taken.

Note: The classification of loops is based on the way the loops flow on the hand (not the card), so that on the
fingerprint card for the left hand, loops flowing towards the thumb impression are ulnar, and loops flowing
towards the little finger impression are radial.

This fingerprint pattern can be This fingerprint pattern is classified as a radial loop. classified as an
ulnar loop.

Note: If the fingerprint is directly examined on the finger itself, the palmar side must be facing with you, just like
illustrated above; however, if you are going to examine a fingerprint impression, the dorsal part of the hand
must be the one facing with you; in accordance with the position of the hand when the fingerprints were printed
on the card.
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College of Criminal Justice

Ulna bone and radius bone are the two bones which give structure to the forearm.
Radius bone- extends from the lateral side of the elbow to the thumb side of the wrist. Ulna bone-
stretches from the elbow to the smallest finger.

Note: When the loop enters and exits from the thumb side of the hand, the pattern will always be a Radial
Loop. On the other hand, when the loop enters and exits from the little finger of the hand, the pattern will
always be an Ulnar Loop.

1.Ulnar Loop

The above patterns show the direction of looping ridges flows towards the little finger if located on the
left hand. Be reminded that the dorsal part or back of that hand must be facing you, since you are now
examining fingerprint impressions.
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College of Criminal Justice

The above patterns show the direction of looping ridges flows towards the little finger if located on the
right hand.

2.Radial Loop

The above patterns show the direction of looping ridges flows towards the thumb finger if located on the
right hand.

The above patterns show the direction of looping ridges flows towards the thumb finger if located on the
left hand.

II. Arches
There are two types of arches: (1) plain arch and (2) tented arch.
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College of Criminal Justice

1. Plain Arch - is the simplest of all fingerprint patterns, and it is easily distinguished. This is a
pattern in which the majority of the ridges flows from one side to the other side of the pattern;
without recurving, usually having a slight upward curve in the pattern, making the pattern like an
arch. It has no core and no delta.

2.Tented Arch
There are three (3) kinds of tented arches:
a. Angle type;
b. With upthrust;
c. A pattern similar or resembles like a loop but with missing or lacking at least one essential
element.
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College of Criminal Justice

III. WHORLS
1. Plain Whorl - it is a pattern consisting of two deltas and which at least one ridge makes a turn
through one complete circuit; and if an imaginary line was drawn between two deltas, it must touch or
cross any circuiting ridge. It consists of the simplest form of whorl construction and is most common of
the whorl subdivisions.

Elements:
a. Presence of two deltas, left and right deltas.
b. Presence of at least one circuiting ridge either oval, spiral or circular shape.
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College of Criminal Justice

c. The straight line drawn from left to right delta should touch or cross any circuiting ridge.

2. Central Pocket Loop – is a pattern which possesses two deltas with one or more ridges forming
a complete circuit, which maybe oval, spiral or circular: or it is a pattern consisting of two deltas, with one
or more recurving ridges and an obstruction at right angle to the inner line of flow, and when an imaginary
line was drawn between two deltas, it should not touch or cross any circuiting ridge.
a. Presence of two deltas, left and right deltas.
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College of Criminal Justice

b. Presence of at least one circuiting ridge either oval, spiral or circular shape.
c. The straight line drawn from left to right delta shall not touch or cross any circuiting ridge.
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College of Criminal Justice

3. Double Loop
This type of fingerprint pattern consists of two separate and distinct loop formations, with sets of
shoulders and two deltas.

Elements:
a. Two separate loop formation
b. Two separate and distinct sets of shoulder
c. Two deltas

4. Accidental Whorl – Is a fingerprint pattern consisting of a combination of two different types of

pattern such as a loop and a whorl, a loop and a central pocket loop, or any combination of two
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College of Criminal Justice

different loop and whorl type pattern; but it cannot be a combination of a plain arch with any pattern. It
can have two or more deltas.