Key Facts
- Loops account for approximately 65% of all fingerprint patterns, making them the most common type.
- A loop pattern features ridges that recurve and touch an imaginary line from the delta to the core.
- For a fingerprint to be classified as a loop, it must include a recurve where ridges turn back on themselves.
- Care must be taken when analyzing appendages that may alter the appearance of the recurving ridges.
- Further exploration of fingerprint science can enhance understanding of their anatomy and significance in identification.
Key Characteristics of loops
Loops are a type of friction ridge pattern that constitute about 65% of all prints.
A loop is a type of fingerprint pattern in which one or more of the ridges on either side of the impression, recurve, touch or pass in imaginary line drawn from the delta to the core, and terminate or tend to terminate on or toward the same side of the impression from whence such ridge or ridges entered.
A sufficient recurve, which is that part of a recurving ridge between the shoulders of a loop.Â
A delta
A ridge count across a looping ridge
There cannot be a loop unless there is a recurve or one or more ridges turns back on itself. But a pattern must have several characteristics above before it can be properly classified as a loop.
Note that one must be careful when an appendage seems to change the shape of the recurving ridge to which they are connected.
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