Fingerprint patterns

1. Fingerprint Patterns

2. 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

3. 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.

4. General Loop Pattern
Right Loop starts
from the right
Left Loop starts
from the Left

5. General Whorl Pattern
Whorls will always
have at least 2 valid
Deltas located within
the print

6. General Arch Pattern
Arch patterns will
have no Deltas

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

8. Tented Arch patterns are steeper
than general arch patterns

9. Double Loop Patterns look very
different from left or right loops

10. 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

11. Accidental looks like an Arch
pattern and a loop pattern mixed
together. It is also known as a
mixed figure
If a pattern does
contain more than 2
delta's it will always be
an accidental whorl.