Chapter 4: Fingerprints: History and Anatomy “Fingerprints can not lie, but liars can make fingerprints.” —Unknown

Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 1 Dactyloscopy The study of fingerprints Historically  William Herschel—required Indians to put their fingerprints/palm prints on contracts as a means of frightening the businessmen from committing fraud

Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 2 Dactyloscopy  Henry Faulds  claimed that fingerprints did not change over time and that they could be classified for identification  He is also credited with the first fingerprint identification of a greasy fingerprint left on an alcohol bottle

Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 3 Dactyloscopy  Alphonse Bertillon—proposed body measurements as a means of identification; termed  anthropometry

Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 4 Anthropometry There were eleven measurements: Height Stretch: Length of body from left shoulder to right middle finger when arm is raised Bust: Length of torso from head to seat, taken when seated Length of head: Crown to forehead Width of head: Temple to temple Length of right ear Length of left foot Length of left middle finger Length of left cubit: Elbow to tip of middle finger Width of cheeks Length of left little finger

Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 5 Dactyloscopy (cont’d)  Francis Galton  developed a primary classification scheme based on loops, arches and whorls.  Published a book Fingerprints establishing the individuality and permanence of fingerprints  According to his calculations, the odds of two individual fingerprints being the same were 1 in 64 billion.

Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 6 Dactyloscopy  Edward Richard Henry—in collaboration with Galton instituted a numerical classification system

Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 7 Dactyloscopy  Juan Vucetich—developed a fingerprint classification based on Galton’s that is used in Spanish-speaking countries  Juan Vucetich made the first criminal fingerprint identification in He was able to identify Francis Rojas, a woman who murdered her two sons and cut her own throat in an attempt to place blame on another. Her bloody print was left on a door post, proving her identity as the murderer.

Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 8 What Are Ridge Patterns?  Three theories:  Evolutionary development that provides better grip  Makes perspiration easier on a hairless surface  Improves the sense of touch  Apes and monkey have ridge patterns on fingers and toes

Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 9 Anatomy of a Fingerprint  Consists of two main layers:  Epidermis (outer layer)  Outer layer of epidermis is dead  Inner layer of epidermis is living  Dermis (inner layer)  Contains collagen fibers, blood vessels, nerve endings, glands, sensory receptors, smooth muscles, and hair follicles  Underneath dermis is a layer of fat called the hypodermis

Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 10 Anatomy of a Fingerprint  Dermis contains sweat and sebaceous (oil) glands  Sweat glands help control body temperature  Sebaceous glands produce oils called sebum  Helps keep epidermis flexible and waterproof

Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 11 Anatomy of a Fingerprint  Dermal papillae separates the epidermis from the dermis  If an injury occurs above the papillae, fingerprint will be replaced  If an injury across the papillae, scar will mostly occur and fingerprint will be slightly altered

Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 12

Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 13 Fundamental Principles of Fingerprints  A fingerprint is an individual characteristic.  A fingerprint will remain unchanged during an individual’s lifetime.  Fingerprints have general characteristic ridge patterns that permit them to be systematically classified.

Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 14 Loop  A loop must have one or more ridges entering and exiting from the same side. Loops must have one delta.  Types  Radial—opens toward the thumb  Ulnar—opens toward the “pinky” (little finger)  Which type of loop is this, if it is on the right hand? Left hand?

Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 15 Whorl  A plain or central pocket whorl has at least one ridge that makes a complete circuit. A double loop is made of two loops. An accidental is a pattern not covered by other categories. Whorls have at least two deltas and a core.  Types  Plain  Central Pocket  Double Loop  Accidental

Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 16 Arch  An arch has friction ridges that enter on one side of the finger and cross to the other side while rising upward in the middle. They do NOT have type lines, deltas, or cores. Types  Plain  Tented

Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 17 Ridge Characteristics Minutiae  characteristics of ridge patterns  Ridge ending  Short ridge  Dot or fragment  Bifurcation  Double bifurcation  Trifurcation  Bridge  Island  Enclosure  Spur

Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 18 Fingerprint Minutiae

Chapter 4 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 19  games/fingerprint/index.html games/fingerprint/index.html