Figure 2.

Examples of common fingerprint patterns and the determination of summary RCs. (A) A minority of fingertips reveals an ‘arch’ pattern with neither a core nor a delta point (example RC = 0, suggests a very small volar pad). (B) Most fingertips show a ‘loop’ pattern containing one core and one delta point (example RC = 13, an average volar pad). (C) Also fairly common is the ‘whorl’ pattern with one core and two delta points (example summary RC = 21 [i.e. 17 + (½ × 8)], a large volar pad) and the ‘double loop’ pattern with two cores and two delta points (not shown). (Source: Holt SB. Br Med Bull 1961;17:247–50)