FORENSIC DACTYLOSCOPY
Q and A
Presented by
Dr. JEZREEL VICENTE, RC, CCS, CSP, CST, CSMS
Faculty, BS Forensics, BSCrim, MSCrim, PhDCrim, UB
Program Head, Forensic Science, University of Baguio
Faculty, PPSC - CAR Training Center, Baguio City
VP for Luzon, PCAP
1. What do you call that impression, designed by the ridges on the inside of the end joint
of the fingers and thumb on any smooth surface through the media of an ink, sweat or
any reagents capable of producing visibility?
A. Fingerprint/Dactylogram
B. Dactyloscopy
C. Personal Identification
D. Fingerprint Identification
Dactyl is to Finger; Skopein is to examine
Koala - is one of the few mammals, native in Australia that has fingerprints.
Monkeys - have fingerprints which are almost the same with human beings. It is proven
that fingerprints of monkeys are mistakenly identified as human fingerprints.
2. These are the tiny elevations on the skin and hill like structures found on the
epidermis layer of the skin containing sweat pores.
A. Fingerprint
B. Minutiae
C. Ridges
D. Pores
Friction, Epidermal or Papillary skin - hairless skin on palms and soles of feet
Friction Ridges - elevated portion of Friction skin.
Minutiae are friction ridges that compose the patterns of fingerprints.
3rd - 4th month – ridges start to develop
About 6 months - ridges are fully developed
Fingerprint size – may Change
Ridge characteristics and pattern – Does not change
3. What do you call the endpoint of each of the fingers that contains the tiny elevated
skin that forms the ridges?
A. Bulb
B. End joint phalange
C. Terminal phalange
D. All of the above
4. What statement below is true about fingerprints?
A. Fingerprints of twins can be identical
B. Fingerprints of couple can be identical
C. Fingerprints of persons can be similar
D. Siamese twins’ fingerprints are always similar
Remember: Fingerprints can only be SIMILAR but never IDENTICAL in all points.
5. The principle of fingerprints that states “fingerprints of a person are unchanging or
constant from birth until the decomposition of the body of the person” is _____.
A. Principle of Permanency, Consistency, Constancy, Perennial, or Immutable
B. Principle of Individuality or Variation
C. Principle of Infallibility
D. Principle of Multiplicity
Principle of Individuality or Variation – we have different fingerprints.
Principle of Infallibility – fingerprints are reliable means of personal identification.
Principle of Multiplicity – The more the better
6. This is the result of the summation of all numerical values assigned to whorls
appearing in a fingerprint card.
A. PC
B. SC
C. SSC
D. MC
Remember: 32/32 = highest PC
1/1 = lowest PC
Plus 1 = arbitrary count
7. This is derived from the process of ridge counting the loops or ridge tracing the
whorls appearing on the thumbs of both right and left hands.
A. PC
B. SC
C. SSC
D. MC
Proper Placement of the 6 Divisions:
8. If the right thumb is radial loop and the left thumb is amputated, in order to classify
each thumb, what is the pattern of the left thumb?
A. Radial Loop
B. Ulnar Loop
C. Whorl
D. Loop
If both fingers are AMP or FMB, they shall be treated as Whorls (W)
9. Is a long-host like structure that serves as the passage way for the perspiration?
A. Sweat pore
B. Sweat duct
C. Sweat/Eccrine gland
D. Ridge surface
COMPONENTS OF THE FRICTION SKIN
Ridges (Black lines) – are hill like, elevated.
Furrows (White lines) – canal-like, depressed portions found between the ridges.
Pores – are small opening found on skin and appear white on plain impression.
Sweat Duct – is a long-host like structure that serves as the passage way for the
sweat.
Sweat Glands – produces sweat/perspiration.
10. In recording, the subject must be advised to _____.
A. Relax his fingers
B. Normalize his fingers
C. Extend his fingers
D. Submit his fingers
KINDS OF FINGERPRINT IMPRESSIONS
Rolled impression – nail edge to nail edge
Plain impression – fingers are pressed down
MANNER OF INKING AND PRINTING :
Thumbs - rolled towards the subject’s body (inward).
Four other fingers - rolled away from the subject’(outward)
The rolling of fingers should be done 180 degrees.
11. It refers to the innermost layer of skin that contains blood vessels, connective tissue,
nerves and fat lobules.
A. Epidermis
B. Dermis
C. Hypodermis
D. Either
Remember:
Outer / Epidermis
Inner / Dermis / Dermal papillae
Innermost / Hypodermis / Subcutaneous
12. What sub-layer of the Outer layer of skin, named by Dr. Marcello Malpighi?
A. Stratum Corneum
B. Stratum Mucosum
C. Stratum lucidum
D. Stratum spinosum
13. He was an American criminal who attempted to erase his fingerprints with the use of
acid in the Midwestern United States over a period of 13 months in 1933 and 1934 is
_____.
A. Roberts James Pitts
B. Edmond Locard
C. John Dillinger
D. Witkowsji
14. If the hands of the subject to be fingerprinted are perspiring heavily, the technician
must _____.
A. Either C or D
B. Neither C nor D
C. Wipe with dry cloth
D. Wipe with alcohol
15. It refers to the practical application of fingerprints through manual comparison and
classification.
A. Fingerprints
B. Dactyloscopy
C. Dactylography
D. Dactylomancy
Fingerprints - impressions
Dactylography – scientific study and analysis
Dactylomancy – to interpret one’s personality
16. The study of palm print for purposes of personal identification refers to _____.
A. Poroscopy
B. Podoscopy
C. Palmistry
D. Chiroscopy
Poroscopy – pores ID
Podoscopy – footprints ID
Palmistry – Fortune telling
17. The field of study that is focused on the lines, tracings, and formation of ridges on
palms and fingers is _____.
A. Edgeoscopy
B. Ridgeology
C. Dermatoglyphics
D. Brachydactyly
Edgeoscopy – edges and shapes
Ridgeology – ridge characteristics
Brachydactyly – shortening of fingers due to short bones
18. Which of the following is a correct statement?
A. AFIS automatically identifies the latent print of suspect
B. AFIS immediately provides identities of suspect
C. AFIS facilitates the search and identification of latent prints
D. All of the above
AFIS – Fingerprints
APIS - Palmprints
19. The following are early means of identifying people, except _____.
A. Tattooing
B. Branding
C. Mutilating
D. Fingerprinting
20. Fingerprints is for “Hua Chi” as to “Lo and Ki” is for _____.
A. Whorls and loops
B. Arches and whorls
C. Loops and arches
D. Fingerprint Patterns
21. In the primitive time in Mexico, part of tradition is to put the palm print of the corpse
on a formed mud or clay on their tombs. This is a practice of what tribe?
A. Mexicanos
B. Christians
C. Chinese
D. Aztecs
22. The Grandfather of fingerprints is _____.
A. Johannes Evangelist Purkinje
B. Edward Richard Henry
C. Alphonse Bertillon
D. Marcello Malpighi
Johannes Evangelist Purkinje – father of Dactyloscopy
Edward Richard Henry – Father of modern Dactyloscopy/fingerprints
Alphonse Bertillon – Father of Personal Identification
23. A Fingerprint Expert and constabulary Sergeant testified and successfully defended
fingerprint evidence based on eight (8) identical ridge points. What was this case?
A. People v. Jennings
B. Bilangawa v. Amador
C. People v. Medina
D. People v. Tecinvi
People vs. Jennings
The first authoritative case involving fingerprint as evidence in US which was
decided by the Illinois Court in 1911. Happened in Illinois, USA. Complete name of
accused is Thomas Jennings
People of the Philippines vs. Medina
This is the counterpart of the Jennings’ case in USA. This is the first leading
judicial decision in the Philippine jurisprudence in the science of fingerprinting.
Summary of the Case:
On February 12, 1932, at night, Mariano Medina breaks into and enters through
the window of the house of James C. Rockwell. Medina took several personal
properties of Rockwell. One of the properties taken by Medina is a box, which was
discovered in the vicinity of the scene of the crime. A Constabulary Officer named
Agripine Ruiz, discovered a fingerprint in the surface of the box which was compared to
the fingerprints of the accused-Medina. It was found out that the Right Middle Finger of
Medina matched with the latent print lifted from the silver box in 10 points. A case was
filed against the defendant and was later on convicted.
24. Can you force a person to be fingerprinted?
A. Yes, if he was lawfully arrested.
B. Yes, if he is an adult.
C. No, if he is a minor.
D. No, it is a violation of his right.
Legal basis: Opinion No. 204 series of 1939 by the Secretary of Justice “Jose Abad
Santos”.
25. The 4 Requisites in Comparison of Friction Ridges are general pattern agreement,
qualitative concordance, quantitative factors, and relationship of ridge detail. What do
you mean by “Qualitative concordance?”
A. The 8 fingerprint patterns
B. The same relative shape and sizes of ridge characteristics.
C. Sufficient number of ridge characteristics.
D. Location, position and intervening ridges.
26. The Origin of Fingerprints is to William James Herschel as to Edward Richard Henry
is to _____.
A. Classification and Uses of Fingerprint
B. Anatomia Humanis Corporis
C. Philosophical Transaction
D. Fingerprints
Nehemiah Grew - Philosophical Transaction
Govard Bidloo - Anatomia Humanis Corporis
Francis Galton - Fingerprints
27. Suicide letter, threat letter and other documents in which writings are important must
be treated with _____.
A. Ninhydrin Solution
B. Ninhydrin Benzene solution
C. Cyano bond
D. Mighty bond
CHEMICAL METHODS
1. Ninhydrin solution - destroys writings. This is used to detect latent prints on absorbent
materials, white wood, blood stained fingerprint, paper wrapping of cigarette stick, etc.
2. Ninhydrin Petroleum Benzene Solution - Written materials are not destroyed.
28. Latent prints are called Chance Impressions. Which of the following is the best
justification?
A. They were not intended to be left in the crime scene.
B. They are not clear as to appearance
C. They were left by the suspect.
D. They are not rolled impressions.
29. What law created the Division of Investigation (now the NBI) dated Nov 13, 1936.
A. Commonwealth Act No. 181
B. Executive Order No. 94
C. Republic Act No. 409
D. Republic Act No. 157
29. What law that established the Criminal Records and Identification Division (CRID) of
the Manila Police Department?
A. Commonwealth Act No. 181
B. Executive Order No. 94
C. Republic Act No. 409
D. Republic Act No. 157
30. What was the legal basis of renaming B.I. to NBI Oct 4, 1949?
A. Commonwealth Act No. 181
B. Executive Order No. 94
C. Republic Act No. 409
D. Republic Act No. 157
C.A. 181 – created DI
R.A. 157 – abolished DI & created BI
E.O. 94 – renamed BI to NBI
R.A. 409 – created CRID
31. According to history, who is the first woman fingerprint technician?
A. Isabela Bernales
B. Generoso Reyes
C. Thomas Dugan
D. Flaviano C. Guererro
32. What is the purpose of recording the fingerprints of the fingers of the right and left
hands down the fingerprint card in plain impressions?
A. Used for persons with complete fingers
B. Used to identify suspect
C. Used to check the location of fingerprints and for patterns interpretation
D. Used for classification purposes
33. Why is that ridge characteristics of every pattern are unique?
A. Because mothers have different degree of nutrition
B. Because each fetus grows differently
C. Because of the parents belong to different races
D. Because of wet and dry seasons in the country
Fingerprint Characteristics:
Type lines
two outermost ridges
basic boundaries
skeleton of pattern.
Pattern Area
The area surrounded by the typelines.
contains the ridge details.
Delta
Outer terminus, tri-radius, tri-radial
Found: At, in front, near the point of divergence.
Point of Divergence (Area of Divergence)
found inside the two diverging ridges.
Diverging Ridges are two ridges running side by side and suddenly separating, one
ridge going one way and the other ridge going another way.
Core or inner terminus - heart of the pattern. Approximate center of pattern
Rod or Bar - Located inside the innermost recurving ridge
Upthrust
The ridge that rises a sufficient length from the horizontal baseline.
Recurving or Looping ridges - ridges that start and curve back from the horizontal
baseline.
Shoulders of a Loop - The two points where the looping ridge start and ends its curve.
Sufficient Recurve - Ridge between the two shoulders.
Bifurcating Ridge
splits into two ridges forming a Y shape structure.
Double bifurcation
two tandem of bifurcations
Trifurcating ridges
is a friction ridge that divides into three friction ridges.
Opposed bifurcation
located at both ends
Series of Bifurcations
3 or more and appear in tandem or group.
Spur or hook ridge
A bifurcation with one short ridge branching off a longer ridge.
Converging ridge
closed end is angular, pointed and abrupt
Puckering Ridge
Curly, Irregular in appearance
Appendage or Abutment
located on top or summit of the sufficient recurve
Staple
located along a looping ridge
Crossover or Bridge
Connects two or more ridges.
Fragment
Extremely short, not more than 3 mm
Short ridge
Insufficient or limited in length. Not a fragment.
Series of Short Ridges
broken short ridges, Tandem or group
Dot Ridge
Any dot or point in a pattern.
Series of dot ridges or Row of dots
The group of dots
Ridge Ending
All terminal points of ridges
Island, Lake, Eyelet
Smaller-shorter in size than enclosure.
Enclosure
Bigger-larger than Island, Runs a distance and closes
Envelop
An Island or Enclosure that contains a ridge inside.
Incipient or Nascent ridges
NOT counted. Impression of dirt or foreign objects
Dissociated Ridges
NOT counted. No specific name, Combination of many
Creases
Impression of Scars. Scars are found on skin, while Creases found on fingerprint card
34. Are the two outermost ridges which start parallel, diverge, and surround or tend to
surround the pattern area.
A. Typelines
B. Pattern Area
C. Point of Divergence
D. Diverging ridges
35. The point on the first ridge formation found at or directly in front of and nearest the
center of the divergence of the type lines
A. Delta
B. Core
C. Focal points or Fingerprint Terminus
D. Bifurcation
36. Generally, how many deltas a central pocket loop has?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. It depends
37. If there is no visible ridge that may be chosen as delta, the _____ may be chosen as
delta.
A. Point of divergence
B. Bifurcation
C. Recurving ridge
D. Short ridge
38. Are two ridges flowing side by side and suddenly separating, one ridge going one
way and the other ridge going another way.
A. Recurving ridges
B. Diverging ridges
C. Converging ridges
D. Bifurcating ridges
39. A single ridge which splits into two, forming a Y shape structure is called _____.
A. Recurving ridge
B. Diverging ridge
C. Converging ridge
D. Bifurcating ridge
40. A ridge formation whose closed end is angular and serves as a point of
convergence, usually pointed and abrupt.
A. Diverging ridge
B. Converging ridge
C. Bifurcating ridge
D. Recurving ridge
41. A short ridge that spoils the sufficiency of a recurve located on top or summit of a
recurve usually at right angle
A. Appendage
B. Abutment
C. Staple
D. Some of the above
42. A single recurving ridge in the center of the pattern area and located along the
looping ridges.
A. Bridge
B. Short ridge
C. Staple
D. crossover
43. These are caused mainly by minor surface damage such as injuries, work and tear
or advanced of age.
A. Creases
B. Incipient Ridges
C. Puckering Ridge
D. Dissociated Ridges
44. This is a bifurcation which does not remain open but in the legs of the bifurcation,
after running along side by side for a short distance, come together and forms a single
ridge once more.
A. Recurving ridge
B. Enclosure
C. Island (Lake or eyelet)
D. Envelop
45. Refers to a ridge that is insufficient in length other than the fragment.
A. Dot ridge
B. Short ridge
C. Fragment Ridge
D. Dissociated Ridge
46. As to the percentage distribution of the different fingerprint patterns, how many
percent is the whorl family?
A. 60%
B. 35%
C. 5 %
D. Unknown
47. What do you call the fingerprint pattern where most of the ridges enter on one side
of the pattern and flow to the other side with a rise at the center?
A. Plain Arch
B. Tented Arch
C. Ulnar Loop
D. Radial Loop
Categories of fingerprints are: Loops; Whorls; Arches
A - Plain arch – most simple of all patterns
T - Tented arch – transitional pattern
R - Radial Loop – towards the thumb side.
U - Ulnar loop- towards the little finger side.
W – Plain Whorl – has circuiting/whorl ridges
C – Central Pocket Loop Whorl – a whorl is pocketed inside a loop
D – Double Loop Whorl – two distinct loops
X – Accidental Whorl – combination of whorl and loop
Composite patterns are: double loop whorl; central pocket loop whorl and
accidental whorl.
General Symbol for whorl is “W”
48. In dactyloscopy, this refers to the focal points or terminus of fingerprints.
A. Whorl/circuiting ridges
B. Recurving/looping ridges
C. Core
D. Delta
49. This is the pattern which is nearly a loop since it only lacks some of the requisites of
a loop pattern.
A. Radial Loop
B. Ulnar Loop
C. Tented Arch
D. Plain Arch
50. If there are three (3) rods or bars inside the innermost sufficient recurve, where will
the core be placed?
A. At the center rod.
B. At the end of the rod.
C. At the end of the center rod.
D. At the end of the further one of the two center rod.
Presented by
Dr. JEZREEL VICENTE, RC, CCS, CSP, CST, CSMS
Faculty, BS Forensics, BSCrim, MSCrim, PhDCrim, UB
Program Head, Forensic Science, University of Baguio
Faculty, PPSC - CAR Training Center, Baguio City
VP for Luzon, PCAP
