FINGERPRINT CHARACTERISTICS

AND FORMATION
 RIDGE FUNCTION AND
INTERPRETATION
RIDGE – is the elevated portion of the skin which is blank in a fingerprint
impression, a minute hill-like structure or protuberances found on the epidermis
of the skin.

RIDGE
FURROWS – the depression or white spaces between the ridges.

FURROWS
PATTERN AREA – is a part of a loop or whorl in which appears a core, deltas and ridges
which we are concerned in regard to the interpretation and classification.
TYPE LINE – are two innermost ridges which
start parallel diverge and surround or tend to
surround the pattern area.

DIVERGENCE – is the spreading apart of two

lines which have been running parallel or nearby
parallel.

CONVERGENCE – it is the meeting of two or

more ridges at a certain point.
BIFURCATION – it is the forking or dividing or one line into two or more branches.
ENCLOSURE – it is a single ridge which split into two or more branches and at a
certain point meet again to form a single ridge.
DOT – it is a ridge possessing a single pore.

SHORT RIDGE – it is a ridge of limited length with two or more pores.

ENDING RIDGE – it is the terminus of short or long ridge.