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Dermal Papillae

Definition

Peg-like projections of the dermis into the epidermis. Their geometry sets the ridge pattern in stone before birth. Damage limited to the epidermis heals without scar; damage into the dermis leaves a permanent scar that becomes part of the print.

Related terms

ACE-V
Analysis, Comparison, Evaluation, Verification: the four-stage method for latent print examination used by accredited forensic fingerprint laboratories. Analysis examines the latent in...
Adermatoglyphia
Rare genetic disorder, sometimes called immigration delay disease, in which a person is born without friction ridges. The standard counter-example to the...
Core
The approximate centre of a fingerprint pattern. In a loop, it is identified as the innermost recurving ridge's peak or the tip...
Delta
Triangular ridge formation at the point where parallel ridge flows diverge. Arches have 0 deltas, loops have 1, whorls have 2 or...
Friction Ridge
Raised epidermal ridge on the palmar surface of fingers, palms and soles, formed during foetal life from the underlying dermal papillae. The...
Henry Classification
Numeric filing system built at the Calcutta Fingerprint Bureau in 1897. Assigns a numerator and denominator from whorls on even and odd...
Minutiae (Galton Points)
Local ridge features used for individual identification. The classical set is ridge ending, bifurcation, dot, island or lake, bridge, hook or spur,...

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