What are the three basic fingerprint ridge patterns, and what term describes small ridge details?

What are the three basic fingerprint ridge patterns, and what term describes small ridge details?

• A. Loops, Whorls, Arches; Minutiae
• B. Arches, Deltas, Ridges; Endings
• C. Loops, Arches, Deltas; Features
• D. Whorls, Deltas, Arches; Cores

Answer: (A)

In fingerprint analysis, the big shape categories you look for are loops, whorls, and arches. They describe the general flow of ridge patterns from a broad view. The term for the tiny ridge details used to tell prints apart is minutiae. Minutiae cover small features like ridge endings, bifurcations, and short ridges—the specifics investigators compare to confirm a match.

So this choice is correct because it pairs the three main pattern types with the standard term for these small ridge details. Other options mix elements that aren’t the three primary patterns (for example, deltas are flow features rather than one of the basic patterns) or use broader terms like endings, features, or cores that don’t pinpoint the established terminology.