DERMATOGLYPHIC: Finger Pattern Types

(Henry Classification), Total Ridge Count

Introduction

In common parlance, the study of the skin

patterning on the finger palms, soles, and toes, are
termed as Dermatoglyphics. It is derived from an
ancient Greek term (derma = skin; glyphe = a
carving: Nath, 1984). In Human as well as in many
other organism the palmer and planter surfaces
are covered by skin different from others parts of
the body. The surface is continuously corrugated
with narrow minute (friction ridges) ridges and
there are neither hairs nor sebaceous (oil) gland.
However, sweat glands are abundant and relatively large in size. Similarly palms and
soles of all primates’ bear ridges. The tails of certain monkeys and paws in some
mammals other than primates also possess such kind of ridges.

In human it starts appearing for the first time from the twelfth to sixteenth week of
embryonic development. Their formation get completed by the twenty fourth week i.e.
about six foetal months. Thus once formed becomes permanent and do not change or
alter throughout the course of life until intentionally destroyed or decomposed after
death.
Brief historical development

The study of finger print started

since long back showing an
archaeological evidence of ancient
Chinese and Babylonian civilizations
to sign legal documents in 1000 BC.
In AD 650, nearly 600 years before
Marco Polo visited “Cathay”, Chinese
historian Kia Kung-Yen wrote of
fingerprints used in an older method of preparing contracts. The law book of Yung-Hwui
of the same period listed that the husband in a divorce decree had to sign the document
with his fingerprint.

In the late 1700’s, a German doctor, J.C.A. Mayer, A very astute observation were
made. He reported that fingerprints are never duplicated by nature. However he did not
continue to work.

Most historians credit Sir William Herschel with being the first person to
categorically use fingerprints for identification purposes. In 1858, when he began the
practice, the idea was probably based on superstition; but Herschel quickly saw the
value of fingerprints as a positive form of identification.

The first person given credit for using fingerprints to solve a crime is Henry
Faulds. He wrote in Nature magazine that when bloody finger marks or impressions on
clay, glass, etc. exist, they may lead to the scientific identification of criminals. However
the only scientific method of study started recently at the end of the 19th century.
Today due to the advances in the state-of-the-art have led to computerization of
fingerprint record files. Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems (A.F.I.S.) is in
operation in many parts of the country.

For example A. F. I. S. not only stores record cards in computer memory, it will
match latent fingerprints from crime scenes to its data bank. A well-known example of the
speed of an A.F.I.S. at work was in California. A latent fingerprint was entered into the
system, and in less than four minutes later the print was matched, and a killer who had
eluded police for six years was identified and apprehended.

Working principles of Dermatoglyphics

Importance of Dermatoglyphics lies due to the following distinct characters

1. It is not modified by environmental factors

2. It is Non- adaptive in characters
3. Not subjected to high rate of mutation
4. It can be identifiable without any subjective biasness etc.

In the case of particular finger print it has three important principles:

1. First Principle: A fingerprint is an individual characteristic. No two fingers have

identical ridge characteristics (we have no specific proof of this, so we go on the
scientific principle of inductive reasoning: it helps to explain why the term
"fingerprint have been shown to be identical, therefore no finger prints are
identical. This is used throughout science, and will hold up until one contradictory
example is found. As it is impossible to test every fingerprint on every person
living, not to mention those in the past & those yet to be born, in the absence of
contradictory evidence this will continue to be accepted as a fundamental
principle.)
 2. Second Principle: A fingerprint will remain unchanged during an individual’s
lifetime.

3. Third Principle: Fingerprints have general ridge patterns which make it possible to
systematically classify.

Importance

Because of all this important traits, in the

present society it becomes one of the
tremendous tools for human biologist. It is used
for the personal identification as pointed out by
Henry Fauld (1880) and Francis Galton (1892). It
becomes one of the greatest contributions to the
law enforcing departments on the principle that
‘anything can lie but not finger print’. It
becomes one of the cheapest means to prove
the identity of the criminals. It is also very much applicable in the prevention of
impersonation and applied in the biometrics based electronic gadgets. Its value
increases in clinical investigations with the rapid growth in human genetics and along
with the discovery of chromosomal aberration in man. Because of its unchangeable
characteristics, it has got very importance place in criminal investigation by storage,
search, retrieval and matching of prints using computers with different methods
(automated fingerprint identification systems; AFIS) etc. The anthropologists are very
much concerned not only in the context of twin diagnosis (monozygotic and dizygotic),
disputed paternity diagnosis, primatology and biological variation among different
populations etc. but it try to understand in all the perspectives considering even the
cultural and social background of the populations.
Main classes of fingerprints: (Loops, Whorls, and Arches)

Loops: 60-65% of the population has loops. It is characterize by

having one or more ridges entering from one side of the print,
curving and exiting from the same side. It has classified mainly two
types:

1. Loop opening toward little finger: Ulnar loop (As the ulna is the medial bone).
2. Loop opening toward thumb: Radial loop (As the radius is the lateral bone). All
loops must have one delta and type lines. The core is the center of the loop

Whorls: 30-35% of the population has whorls. All whorl patterns must have type lines
and two deltas. It has four major types:

1. Plain,
2. Central pocket,
3. Double loop and
4. Accidental

Plain whorls must have at least one ridge that makes a complete circuit and an
imaginary line from one delta to the other must touch a whorl ridge. Central pocket
whorls must have at least one ridge that makes a complete circuit and an imaginary line
from one delta to the other cannot touch a whorl ridge. Double loop is two loops
combined to make one whorl. Any other types not in the three categories are called
accidentals (generally, they have a whorl type pattern).
Arches: Only 5 percent of the population has arches. Arch ridges tend to enter from
one side of the print and leave out on the other side. It has two distinct types:

1. Plain arches and

2. Tented arches.

Plain arches tend to show a wave like pattern. Tented arches show a sharp spike
at the center of the arch. Arches do not have type line, deltas or cores. The pictures of
the following main classes of the fingerprint are shown in the figure given below:

Finger Pattern types (Henry’s Classification)

There are more than fifty finger pattern types of

classification systems which are used in different
countries and in different organization developed by
many thinkers and scholars. So far the most
acceptable classification applied in finding out of the
criminals from the crime scene is produced by Galton,
Henry and Vucetich system of classification. This type
of classification is also known as Ten Digit
classification system mainly developed by Edward
Henry. In developing this classification he
experimented with Herschel’s finger print system. He then visited Galton and later
developed his own classification system. It is based on the recognition of certain
fundamental structures like Arch, Loops, Whorl and Composite which are variants of the
fundamental structure along with their distribution pattern of occurrence on the finger.
Beside some of the secondary factors which are of importance in this classification
include the direction of slope of the ridge, the distance between the right and the left
delta and the core etc.
Sir Edward Henry (1850-1931)

Sir Edward Richard Henry was a high-ranking official (IGP)

Bengal in India during the nineteenth century. He was responsible
for the government payroll, paying the natives who worked on the
roads and railways. When Henry took over the position, there was a
high rate of fraud cases. Some individuals would claim two or more
paychecks under different names. If a worker died, his family would
often hide the body and continue to claim his paycheck for years.

Sir Edward Henry solved the fingerprint-indexing problem with an ingenious

solution in 1897. Scotland Yard adopted the Henry-System in 1901. Since then, the
system has been adopted by virtually every country in the world (with minor regional
variations).

In this type of classification all the ten digit fingerprint are analyze under the
following seven headings.

1. Primary classification system

2. Major divisions system
3. Secondary classification system
4. Sub-secondary classification system
5. Second sub-secondary classification system
6. Final classification system and
7. Key classification system
 The Primary Classification (of all Ten Fingers)

This is a version of the Sir Henry’s system of classification,

and is the first classification used by the FBI to "whittle down" the
possible suspects in a crime scene.
In this classification the ten fingers of the two hands are grouped
in five pairs in the following manner.

Pair 1 includes Right Thumb and Right Index (RT&RI)

Pair 2 includes Right Middle and Right Ring (RM&RR)
Pair 3 includes Right Little and Left Thumb (RL&LT)
Pair 4 includes Left Index and Left Middle (LI&LM)
Pair 5 includes Left Ring and Left Little (LR&LL)

The fingers are paired, placing one finger in the numerator of a fraction and the
other in the denominator. This way all ten fingers can be paired.

R. Index R. Ring L. Thumb L. Middle L. Little

------ ------ ------ ------ ------
R. Thumb R. Middle R. Little L. Index L. Ring

Right thumb and right Index combination pattern could be either Loops or a
Whorl. Therefore the possible combination of pattern on this first pair would be L/L, L/W,
W/L, W/W. similar pattern follow in all the remaining pair. When the four possible
combinations of the pair are combined with that of the four possible combinations of the
second pair, the resultant number of possible combination would be 4x4= 16. When
third pair is associated with the combination of first and second it becomes 4x4x4= 64 or
16x4 = 64 when fourth and fifth pair is associated than it finally become 4x4x4x4x4 =
1024. This could be represented in the chart having 32x32 cabinates arranged
horizontally and vertically which would provide location for all combination of loops and
whorl of the ten digits taken in five pair.

In practical understanding different numerical values have been assigned. If a

whorl pattern is found on the first pair of the fingers (R. Index/R. Thumb), it is given a
value of 16. A whorl on the next pair would be given a value of 8. The next pair, 4, then
2, then one for the last pair. Arches and loops are valued at 0. So that the fractions
don't end up with 0 in the numerator or denominator, 1 will be added in both numerator
and denominator.

Ex: If a whorl was found on the R. Index finger and the R. Middle finger, the following
fractions would result:
16 + 0 + 0 + 0 + 0
------ ------ ------ ------ ------
0 + 8 + 0 + 0 + 0

If we add 1 to the top and bottom, we end up with a fraction of 17/9.

16 + 0 + 0 + 0 + 0 + 1 17
------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ = ------
0 + 8 + 0 + 0 + 0 + 1 9

Therefore, we can eliminate all suspects that do not have this fraction. It is
simply a way of quickly classifying fingerprints of a large group of subjects.

1. Major Divisions System

This system is created by counting the ridges in loop patterns and by tracing the
whorl patterns on the thumbs only for both the right and the left hands. The loop
patterns on the thumb have been subdivided into three categories according to the
number of ridges counted between the delta and the core of a loop. The categorization
of loops on the thumb is made in the following manner:

1. All loops on thumb with ridge count between 1-12 are identified as ‘I’ type
2. All loops on thumb with ridge count between 13 -19 are identified as ‘M’ type.
3. All loops on thumb with ridge count 20- and above are identified as ‘O’ type

For major division the type of pattern on right thumb is taken as numerator and
left thumb for denominator. Thus with three types we obtain in the following nine
combinations.

RT/LT RT/LT RT/LT

-----------------------------------------------------------------
I/I M/I O/I
I/M M/M O/M
I/O M/O O/O

So the value of this classification fluctuate between I/I to O/O

2. Secondary classification system

For secondary system the patterns appearing on Index Fingers of the Right and
the Left hand are considered. They are in the nine pattern types--- PLAIN ARCH,
TENTED ARCH, RADIAL LOOP, ULNAR LOOP, WHORL, CENTRAL PECKET, LOOP,
LATERAL PECKET LOOP (DOUBLE LOOP), TWINED LOOP (DOUBLE LOOP) and
ACCIDENTALS which are represented by the following eight symbols: A, T, R, U, W, C,
S and X. For arriving at secondary classification the patterns occurring on Right Index
Finger are taken as numerator and the Left Index Finger for denominator. These eight
types of pattern symbols would provide 64 possible combinations of Right Index / Left
Index.
 A/A T/A R/A U/A W/A C/A A/A X/A =8
A/T T/T R/T U/T W/T C/T S/T X/T =8
A/R T/R R/R U/R W/R C/R S/R X/R =8
A/U T/U R/U U/U W/U C/U S/U X/U =8
A/W T/W R/W U/W W/W C/W S/W X/W =8
A/C T/C R/C U/C W/C C/C S/C X/C =8
A/S T/S R/S U/S W/S C/S S/S X/S =8
A/X T/X R/X U/X W/X C/X S/X X/X =8
-------
64
Thus the secondary formula for any individual would fluctuate between A/A type
to X/X.

3. Sub-Secondary classification system:

This classification system can be made under the following three heads based on
the occurrence of patterns on the Index, Middle, and Ring finger of the Right and
the Left hands.
a. Lettered Group Method
b. Henry’s Method of Ridge Counting and Tracing
c. New Method of Ridge Counting and Ridge Tracing.

a. Lettered Group Method

b.
Whenever plain arches, tented arches and radial loops occur in any finger other
than the index finger the prints are classified under Lettered Groups. This type of
pattern is recorded by employing small alphabetic symbols in the sequence of their
appearance.
 Thumb Index Middle Ring Little Main umber
a A - - - (I)
a A a - - (II)
a A a a - (III)
a A a - a (IV)
a A a a a (V)
a A - a - (VI)
a A - a a (VII)
a A - - a (VIII)
- A - - - (IX)
- A a - - (X)
- A a a - (XI)
- A a - a (XII)
- A a a a (XIII)
- A - a - (XIV)
- A - a a (XV)
- A - - a (XVI)

The roman numbers are noted in addition to the lettered formula to avoid any
kind of confusion in recording and for quick searching. When both the numerator and
denominator fall in the sub class (IX), the impressions are classified according to the
second or third system of the sub secondary system. The number of the groups for the
other hand shall be similar i.e. 16 in all. Thus taking 16 groups each for the right and
the left hand the total number of possible combinations would be 16x16 = 256, when the
pattern on the index finger (as fulcrum) is identified as A. thus on taking T and R
patterns on the index finger as fulcrum, we would get 256 possible combinations for
each T and R respectively. For arriving at the lettered formula the patterns on the right
hand fingers are taken as numerator and left hand for denominator.
 c. Henry’s Method of Ridge Counting and Ridge Tracing

Henry’s methods is followed for classifying the fingerprints when under the sub-
secondary system, the lettered group formula indicates the category IX, that is the plain
arches, tented arches and radial loops are present only on the index finger and not on
any other finger or in other words when classification is not possible according to the
lettered groups method then the Henry’s method of ridge counting and ridge tracing is
employed. Under this system the loop patterns are subdivided into two groups on the
basis of the number of ridges counted between the core and the delta for the three
fingers separately.

Index finger
1. All loops showing a ridge count between 1-9 are taken as ‘I’ types
2. All loops showing a ridge count as 10 and above are taken as ‘O’ types

Middle finger
1. All loops showing a ridge count between 1-10 are taken as ‘I’ types
2. All loops showing a ridge count as 11 and above are taken as ‘O’ types

Ring finger
1. All loops showing a ridge count between 1-11 are taken as ‘I’ types
2. All loops showing a ridge count as 12 and above are taken as ‘O’ types

All whorl patterns, including the composite one are subdivided into three groups
i.e. I, M, O types, as explained earlier. Plain arches and tented arches present on the
index finger are taken as ‘I’ types loop for the purpose of classification.

This will provide the following eight combinations of loops and whorls on these
three fingers i.e Index, Middle and Ring.
Groups Index Middle Ring
1. L L L
2. L L W
3. L W W
4. L W L
5. W L L
6. W L W
7. W W L
8. W W W
______________________________________________________________________

Each of these groups would have the following combinations according to the
type of pattern i.e. I and O type for loops and I, M and O types for whorls.

Groups I: LLL
III, IIO, IOI, IOO OOI OIO OII OOO

Groups 2: LLW
III IIM IIO IOI IOM IOO
OII OIM OIO OOI OOM OOO

Groups 3: LWL
III IIO IMI IMO IOI IOO
OII OIO OMI OMO OOI OOO

Groups 4: LWW
III IIM IIO IMI IMM IMO IOI IOM IOO
OII OMI OIO OMI OMM OMO OOI OOM OOO

Group 5: WLW
III IIM IIO IOI IOM IOO MII MIM MIO
MOI MOM MOO OII OIM OIO OOI OOM OOO

Group 6: WLL
III IIO IOI IOO MII MIO
MOI MOO OII OIO OOI OOO

Group 7: WWL
III IIO IMI IMO IOI IOO MII MIO MMI
MMO MOI MOO OII OIO OMI OMO OOI OOO

Group 8: WWW
III IIM IIO IMI IMM IMO IOI IOM IOO
MII MIM MIO MMI MMM MMO MOI MOM MOO
OII OIM OIO OMI OMM OMO OOI OOM OOO

For arriving at the sub secondary formula according to this method, the right hand
fingers are taken as numerator and the left hand fingers for denominator.

d. New Method of Ridge Counting and Ridge Tracing.

Index finger

1. All loops with ridge count between 1-5 are taken as ‘I’ type
2. All loops with ridge count between 6-12 are taken as ‘M’ type
3. All loops with ridge count between 13 or above are taken as ‘O’ type

Middle finger

1. All loops with ridge count between 1-6 are taken as ‘I’ type
2. All loops with ridge count between 7-13 are taken as ‘M’ type
 3. All loops with ridge count between 14 and above are taken as ‘O’ type

Ring finger

1. All loops with ridge count between 1-7 are taken as ‘I’ type
2. All loops with ridge count between 8-14 are taken as ‘M’ type
3. All loops with ridge count between 15 and above are taken as ‘O’ type

The whorls are grouped into I, M, O types according to their tracing. Plain arches,
tented arches and radial loops existing on index finger are taken as ‘I’ type loops for the
purpose of classification in a similar manner as that followed in the Henry’s method of
sub-secondary system.

The world and loop patterns existing on the index, middle and ring fingers would
provide the following eight combination groups:

Groups Index Middle Ring

9. L L L
10. L L W
11. L W W
12. L W L
13. W L L
14. W L W
15. W W L
16. W W W
____________________________________________________________________

As both the pattern type i.e. loops and whorls are subdivided into I, M, O types,
each of the eight groups would provide following twenty seven possible combination.
Groups I: LLL
III, IIM, IIO, IMI, IMM, IMO, IOI, IOM, IOO
MII MIM MIO MMI MMM MMO MOI MOM MOO
OII OIM OIO OMI OMM OMO OOI OOM OOO

Because of the three fold division of loop patterns, the remaining seven groups -- LLW,
LWL, LWW, WLL, WLW, WWL and WWW could show the same twenty seven
combination as shown for Group 1. The only advantage of this system over the Henry’s
one is that we get as many as 216 possible combinations while in Henry’ method we get
only 125 combinations.

For the purpose of recording the right hand index, middle and ring fingers are taken for
numerator and the left hand finger for denominator.

4. Second Sub- Secondary classification system:

In case of huge collection of finger prints under a specific sub-secondary system,

it is essential to incorporate the use of Second Sub-Secondary system to split them into
smaller groups so as to save time in searching a particular fingerprint slip. Sub
secondary system in lettered form is to be used by identifying the patterns on the middle
and the ring fingers only by representing them through symbolic small alphabets
(letters) in the following manner.
 Pattern type Alphabetic Symbol
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Invaded or Crested Ulnar Loop k
2. Nutan Ulnar Loop n
3. Plain Ulnar Loop u
4. Whorl w
5. Central Pocket Loop c
6. Double Loops (lateral pocket and twined) s
7. Accidentals x

In case plain arches, tented arches and radial loops occur on the middle and the
ring fingers than the second sub-secondary system is not used. In such situation the
prints are classified according to the lettered method of sub-secondary system.

The patterns on the middle and the ring fingers would show the following four
combinations

Group Middle Ring

_________________________________________________________
1. L L
2. L W
3. W L
4. W W
__________________________________________________________

The loops are subdivided into three types i.e. k, n, and u, while the whorls have
four types i.e. w, c, s, and x. on the basis of the type of patterns occurring on the middle
and the ring fingers, the following combinations would be possible under each groups:
 Group 1: LL

kk, kn, ku, nk, nn, nu, uk, un, uu.

Group 2: LW

kw, kc, ks, kx, nw, nc, ns, nx, uw, uc, us, ux.

Group 3: WL

wk, wn, wu, ck, cn, cu, sk, sn, su, xk, xn, xu

Group 4: WW

ww, wc, ws, wx, cw, cc, cs, cx, sw, sc, ss, sx, xw, xc, xs, xx

For arriving at Second Sub - secondary formula the pattern types occurring on
the right hand middle and ring fingers are taken for numerator and the left ones for
denominators.

The invaded loops, the crested loop and the nutant loop patterns which are
utilized in the second sub secondary system may be identified as follows:

An Invaded Ulnar Loop is a pattern which represents an appearance though a series

of ridge were swarming (passing) over the pattern coming from the direction of delta
and trying to engulf the loop (for second sub - secondary system it is represented by
symbol ‘k’).

A Crested Ulnar Loop is a patter in which the ridges swarms over the pattern and
merge to form a sort or crest over the pattern area (for second sub - secondary system
the crested loop is also represented by symbol ‘k’).
A Nutant Loop (Indented Loop) is a pattern in which a loop assumes the appearance
of a sickle, or the core line exhibits a bent near the point of core. Such loops are
identified as nutant loop. (for second sub – secondary system a nutant loop is
represented by symbol ‘n’).

5. Final classification system:

The final system of the Ten Digit classification is made by recording the ridge
count of loop and whorl patterns on the little finger exclusively.

The ridges of a whorl are to be counted from left delta to the core in case of right
little finger and from right delta to the core in case of left little finger.

In cased of double loop patterns the ridges are to be counted between the left
delta and the core of the ascending loop for right little finger and between right delta and
the core of the ascending loop for left little finger.

In case of loop patterns the ridges are counted in the usual manner i.e. between
the core and the delta. For arriving at the final formula the ridge count of the right little
finger is taken for numerator and the left for denominator.

6. Key classification system:

Key classification system involves the ridge counting of loop or whorl patterns
appearing on the right thumb only. For the purpose of recording the ridge count is
specified followed by the pattern type representing through small alphabetic symbols
which were used under the second sub secondary system i. e. k, n, u, w, c, s, and x.
 The value of the key system is placed at the extreme left of the completed
classification formula in line with the numerator. The various positions in the
classification line for these divisions when completely applied are as follows:

Key Major Primary Secondary Sub-Secondary Final

20 L 1 U IOI 10
L 1 U IOO 10

The system of ridge count in case of whorl and double loop patterns is the same
as that followed in the final system i.e. for whorls between left delta and core, and for
double loops between left delta and the core of the ascending loops.

In some cases, this meant that an investigator had to go through all of the known
fingerprint for the comparison work. Second Sub-secondary classification is only used
when a group of fingerprints becomes too cumbersome and unwieldy.

Total Ridge Count

Fingerprint ridge patterns result from environmental

influences on the expression of a number of interacting genes.
At least seven genes are thought to be involved in finger ridge
formation (Penrose, 1969).

The polygenic inheritance model describes the nature of fingerprint ridge patterns
well. There are three major groups of dermal ridge patterns: (I) Arches, (2) Loops, and
(3) Whorls. The arch is the least frequent pattern, subdivided into two groups, plain (the
ridges rise slightly over the middle of the finger) and tented (the ridges rise to a point in
the center). The loop pattern is more complicated. It consists of a core and a tri-radius
(a point where three ridge groups meet at angles of about 120 degrees). Loops are
classified as radial or ulnar depending on the orientation of the core ridge. Radial loops
have a triradius that is on the side of the little finger, with the loop opening towards the
thumb. The ulnar loop has a tri-radius that is on the side of the thumb, with the loop
opening towards the little finger. The whorl pattern on the other hand, has two tri-radii
with the ridges inside the whorl consisting of a number of different patterns.

The sum of ridge counts on all the fingers of both hands which is a quantitative
trait having inheritance in nature is called the TOT AL RIDGE COUNT (TRC). In a study
by Rolt (1968), the average TRC for males was found to be 145 and for females it was
found to be 126. The ridge count on a finger with a loop is determined by counting the
number of ridges between the triradius and the center or core of the pattern. For arch
the ridge count is 0, for whorl ridge count is made from each triradius to the center of
the finger print but only the higher of the two possible counts is used.

Procedure and Results:

To prepare a set of your fingerprints, to determine TRC, and record the data, first
prepare a chart of your ten fingerprints. Use a #2 pencils and shade in a 3cm square
area on a piece of plain paper to make an 'ink' pad. Rub one of the fingers gently on the
graphite square; making certain that it covered all of the tri-radii of the fingerprint. Now
carefully place a piece of clear tape on the blackened finger so that the tape comes in
contact with entire print. Make certain that it include any tri-radii on the outer edges of
the finger by rolling the finger over the tape in one continuous motion. Peel away the
tape and affix it to the appropriate place on the chart (unlined paper).
Repeat this process, preparing a print for each of the ten fingers. Examine each print
carefully; if a print is incomplete or smeared, prepare a new one. If necessary, use a
magnifying glass to classify the pattern (arch, loop, or whorl) and to determine the ridge
count for each print.

Draw a line between the delta and core. As long as you touch or cross a ridge, you
have a ridge count.
1. One ridge must be a looping ridge.

2. The delta and core are not counted.

3. Fragments and dots are counted as ridges only if they appear as thick as the
surrounding ridges.

4. If you cross a bifurcation, count both of its arms.

5. If the delta is on the only loop, there is no ridge count. "0" count

6. White space must intervene between the delta and the first ridge count.

7. If the delta is above the shoulder of a single looping ridge and the core is on the
shoulder, there is no ridge count unless the imaginary line cuts the recurve.

8. For natural and unnatural breaks in the ridges, the distinction is left to the judgment
of the individual classifier.

9. When the core is placed on a spike that touches the inside of the inner most
sufficient recurve, the recurve is included in the ridge count only when the delta is
located below a line drawn at right angles to the spike. (If the delta is located in area
“A”, the recurving ridge is counted.)

To determine TRC add together each of your individual ridge counts. Arches
have a ridge count of zero. For loops, count the number of ridges between the tri-radius
and the center or core of the pattern. For whorls, a ridge count is made from each tri-
radius to the center of the fingerprint and the higher of the two possible counts is
recorded.
 Figure given below is an examples of some fingerprint patterns and the TRC. A:
arch with no tri-radius and ridge count of 0; B: loop with one tri-radius and a ridge count
of 12; C: whorl with two tri-radii and a ridge count of 15 (the higher of the two possible
counts.

After recording the fingerprint pattern data, total ridge count, and sex in the excel
spreadsheet different type of analysis can be perform as per the need of investigation.
We can check the difference between males and females in their ridge counts or
patterns. By knowing the Total Ridges Count comparison work with the necessary
population or individual can be easily drawn.

Conclusion

Dermatoglyphics become one of the very important topics to be understood by all

the human society. Day by day its importance is felt in solving the problems of human
crimes. It has unlimited application in our problematic society especially in the law
enforcing department. In spite of numerous research work in improving the study of its
application like complicated finger pattern type classification (Henry’s classification),
Total Ridge Count etc. still in-depth and extensive research to know the
Dermatoglyphics in details are always necessitate.