Fingerprint Patterns

Fingerprint types

• While fingerprints are unique to each individual, there are three general categories that fingerprints can be placed into.– Loop: 60-65% of the population– Whorl: 30-35% of the population– Arch: up to 5% of the population

About the patterns

• Any fingerprint pattern which contains 2 or more delta's will be a whorl pattern.

• If a pattern contains no delta's then it is an arch.

• If it contains one (and only one) delta it will be a loop.

• If it contains 2 or more it will always be a whorl.

General Loop PatternRight Loop starts

from the right

Left Loop starts from the Left

General Whorl Pattern

Whorls will always have at least 2 valid Deltas located within the print

General Arch Pattern

Arch patterns will have no Deltas

Composite Patterns

• Within the general categories, there are several different types of each print based on some major or minor differences

Tented Arch patterns are steeper than general arch patterns

Double Loop Patterns look very different from left or right loops

Central Loops/Pocket Loops look similar to whorl patterns but

obviously have a loop from the left or right

Right Pocket Loop Left Pocket Loop

Accidental looks like an Arch pattern and a loop pattern mixed together. It is also known as a

mixed figureIf a pattern does contain more than 2 delta's it will always be an accidental whorl.