1. Dactyloscopy Dactyl Skopien
Finger
Skopien
To study or examine
Defined as the practical application of the science of fingerprints
Involves classification and identification

2. Dactylography Dactylomancy Dactylo-analysis
The scientific study of fingerprint as a means of identification
Dactylomancy
The scientific study of fingerprint for the purposes of personality interpretation
Dactylo-analysis

3. Related Sciences to the Study of Fingerprint
Chiroscopy
Cheir (hand), skopien (to study)‏
The science which deals with the study of the prints of the palms of the hand
William Herschel
Podoscopy
Podo (foot), skopien (to study)‏
The science which deals with the study of footprints
Poroscopy
Poros (a pair), skopien (to study)‏
The scientific study of the arrangement of the sweat pores
Edmond Locard- Father of Poroscopy

4. Fingerprint
Defined as an impression or design by the first joint of the fingers and thumb on smooth surface through the media of sweat, ink or any substance capable of producing visibility.

5. Also called as papillary skin
Friction Skin
Also called as papillary skin
Defined as the epidermal layer found on the ventral or lower surface of the hands and feet covered with ridges and furrows

6. Dermal Papillae
Defined as irregular pegs composed of delicate connective tissue protruding and forming ridges of the skin on the fingers, palms, toes and soles of the feet.

7. Fundamental layers of Friction Skin/ Epidermal Skin
Epidermis-outer layer
Stratum corneum
Stratum mucosum
Dermis-inner layer
Blood vessel
Dermal papillae
Various glands and nerves

8. Components of Friction Skin
Ridge surface
Ridge- the elevated or hill-like structure/ the black lines with white dots
Furrows-the depressed or canal-like structure/ the white space between ridges
Sweat pores
The tiny opening/ the tiny white dot
Sweat duct
The passage way
Sweat gland
The producers of sweat

9. Ridge Formation
Ridges starts to form in the fingers and thumb during the 3rd to 4th month of fetus life

10. Ridge Destruction
Destruction of the friction skin can either be temporary or permanent. Generally temporary destruction occur when only the epidermis layer of the friction skin has been damaged while permanent damage can be injected to the friction skin due to the damage in the dermis layer.

11. General Rules on Ridge Destruction
Destruction of the epidermis
Temporary
Destruction of the dermis
Permanent
Cut more than 1mm will constitute a permanent scar

12. Ridge Characteristics
Ridge dot (Island ridge)‏
Refers to a ridge formation in a form of a dot or period
Bifurcation
A ridge formation in which a single ridge splits or divides into 2 or more ridges
Converging ridge
Two ridges that meets at a certain point
Diverging ridge
Two ridges that split apart

13. Enclosure or Lake Ridge
A single ridge that divides into two but does not remain open and meet at a certain point to form the original single ridge
Ending ridge
It refers to an abrupt end of a ridge
Recurving ridge
A single ridge that curves back to the direction where it started
Sufficient recurve
A recurving ridge which is complete with its shoulder free from any appendage

14. Appendage Rod or Bar Obstruction ridge
A short ridge found at the top or summit of a recurve
Rod or Bar
A short or long ridge found inside the recurve directed towards the core
Obstruction ridge
Short ridge found inside the recurve which blocks the inner line of flow towards the core

15. Type lines Pattern area
A diverging ridge that tends to surround the pattern area and serves as a basic boundary of fingerprint impression
Pattern area
A part of a loop or whorl pattern surrounded by type lines and consisting of the delta, the core and other ridges

16. Two Fingerprint Terminus (Focal Points)‏
Delta
Also called the outer terminus
Is a point along the ridge formation found at the center or near the center of the diverging type lines
Core
Also called the heart or the inner terminus
Usually found at the center of the innermost recurve

17. Pattern area