IAI Tenprint key terms

Skin on the palms and soles that bears raised ridges, with no hair follicles or sebaceous glands, and whose ridge pattern stays unchanged through life unless the deeper skin is damaged.

The thickened, rounded mound of tissue on the palm, sole, or fingertip where friction ridges form; its shape during fetal development influences the resulting ridge pattern.

A single raised ridge together with its adjacent furrow, the basic repeating element of friction ridge skin used when describing ridge flow and counting ridges.

The narrow groove between two adjacent friction ridges; in an inked print it appears as a light line, and its shape helps distinguish a true print from an artifact.

A small, localized ridge feature such as a ridge ending or bifurcation, used as a point of comparison between two prints; the plural is minutiae.

A minutia where a single friction ridge stops abruptly; also called a termination, it is one of the most common features recorded during comparison.

A minutia where one friction ridge divides into two separate ridges, forming a Y or fork shape; the point of division is the feature used in comparison.

A rare minutia in which a single ridge splits into three branches at one point, or three ridges converge; its scarcity makes it a strong comparative feature.

A triangular ridge formation where three ridge systems diverge, used to locate the core and to classify patterns; it is one of the focal points of a fingerprint.

The central area of a fingerprint pattern, typically the innermost recurve or ridge ending nearest the center, used as a reference point for classification and ridge counting.

The portion of a fingerprint enclosed by the type lines, containing the core and delta, within which the pattern type is determined and classified.

The two innermost ridges that start parallel, diverge, and surround the pattern area; they serve as boundaries for locating the delta and defining the pattern.

Macroscopic ridge flow and pattern configuration, such as loops, whorls, and arches, used to filter candidate prints before closer examination.

Individual ridge path features, chiefly minutiae such as endings and bifurcations, along with their location and orientation, used to compare two prints.

Fine ridge attributes including pore position, ridge width, edge shape, incipient ridges, and creases; used to support or refute a comparison when level 2 detail is limited.

The small opening of a sweat duct on the crest of a friction ridge; its position and spacing are level 3 features sometimes used in close comparison.

The narrow channel that carries sweat from a gland to a pore on the ridge surface; its openings produce the moisture that lets a latent print develop.

A short, thin ridge that appears in a furrow and does not connect to the main ridge system; counted as level 3 detail in comparison.

A permanent or acquired line crossing friction ridges, caused by flexion, scarring, or aging; its position and shape can support identification.

Permanent disorganization of friction ridges caused by injury that damages the deeper skin layer; its unique shape is a valuable identification feature.

A scar or injury that permanently alters ridge structure in a way that can be recorded and used to confirm identity, provided it was documented in a prior record.

A fingerprint pattern in which one or more ridges enter from one side, recurve, and exit on the same side; it has one delta and a core.

A loop whose ridges open toward the little-finger side of the hand; named for the ulna bone and recorded by its slope direction in classification.

A loop whose ridges open toward the thumb side of the hand; named for the radius bone and distinguished from an ulnar loop by its direction of flow.

A fingerprint pattern in which ridges form a complete circuit around a core, such as a plain whorl, central pocket loop, double loop, or accidental whorl; it has two deltas.

A whorl with at least one complete circle or spiral, in which a line drawn between the two deltas touches a ridge within the inner pattern.

A whorl pattern containing two or more deltas that does not fit any other whorl type, or one combining whorl and loop characteristics; often complex.

A fingerprint pattern in which ridges flow from one side to the other without recurving; it has no delta and is classed as plain or tented.

An arch pattern in which ridges rise sharply in the center, forming a spike or tent; it may show a delta-like formation but is classified as an arch.

A ten-finger classification system that assigns values to pattern types and uses a fraction formula to produce a searchable primary classification based on whorl positions.

The first part of the Henry system, computed from which fingers bear whorls; it divides a collection into a small number of broad groups for filing and search.

A set of inked or scanned impressions of all ten fingers, taken under controlled conditions and linked to a person's identifying data for comparison and filing.

The standardized form or digital equivalent on which ten rolled and plain impressions are recorded, along with personal descriptors and signature.

A fingerprint taken by rolling the finger from edge to edge on the card, capturing the full pattern area including both sides of the finger.

A fingerprint or palm print taken by pressing the finger or hand flat without rolling, showing the central area and used alongside rolled prints for verification.

An invisible or barely visible impression left by friction ridge skin, usually from sweat or transferred substances, that must be developed before it can be recorded.

An impression taken deliberately from a known person, such as a tenprint card, used as the reference against which a latent print is compared.

The practice of counting ridges along a defined line between two landmarks, such as the core and delta, to support classification and comparison.

A comparison method with four stages: analysis of each print, comparison of their features, evaluation of similarities and differences, and verification by another qualified examiner.

The conclusion that two impressions came from the same source, reached when the combined ridge detail is sufficient to exclude all other possible donors.

The judgment that an impression contains enough clear, reliable ridge detail to support a meaningful comparison or conclusion; insufficient prints cannot be individualized.