FSC 100 Chapter 4 Exam Questions with Correct Answers Latest Update 2026/2027
Why are fingerprints considered an infallible means of identification? - Answers No two
fingerprints have ever been found identical, even among millions sampled.
When do friction ridge patterns form, and do they ever change? - Answers They form in the 3rd
month of fetal development and never change except to enlarge or be damaged by
disease/mutilation.
Do identical twins have identical fingerprints? - Answers No—same genetics, but different
fingerprints.
What other body prints are unique to individuals besides fingerprints? - Answers Palmprints,
footprints, lip prints, and ear prints.
What is fingerprint identification called? - Answers Dactyloscopy.
What are the three general fingerprint pattern classes? - Answers Loops, whorls, and arches.
What percentage of the population has loops? - Answers 60-65%.
What percentage of the population has arches? - Answers About 5%.
What percentage of the population has whorls? - Answers 30-35%.
What are the types of loop patterns? - Answers Ulnar (toward little finger) and radial (toward
thumb).
What are the four major whorl pattern types? - Answers Plain, central pocket loop, double loop,
accidental.
What key identifying features are found in loops and whorls? - Answers Core and delta.
What are the types of arch patterns? - Answers Plain and tented.
What are minutiae? - Answers Small ridge details like short ridges, bifurcations, dots, and ridge
endings.
What feature ultimately confirms fingerprint identity? - Answers The unique arrangement of
minutiae.
What are fingerprints? - Answers Reproductions of friction skin ridges on the palm side of
fingers and thumbs.
Where else is friction skin found? - Answers Palms and soles of the feet.
What creates the ridge pattern in fingerprints? - Answers Ridges (hills) and grooves (valleys) in
the epidermis + sweat gland pores.
, What deposits fingerprint residue onto surfaces? - Answers Perspiration and oils from eccrine
(sweat) glands.
What is fingerprint residue composed of? - Answers Mostly water (~99%) + amino acids,
proteins, glucose, salts, oils.
How do latent fingerprint development methods work? - Answers Powders or chemicals react
with substances in fingerprint residue.
Can criminals permanently remove friction ridges? - Answers No—acid, surgery, and other
methods fail; ridges grow back or remain readable.
What are palmprints used for? - Answers Identification, especially in major case print files.
Why is there no large palmprint database? - Answers Palmprints aren't routinely collected during
arrests; only major case files include them.
What do major case print files contain? - Answers Full rolled prints of all fingers, palms, sides of
hands, and full handprints.
How are palmprints identified? - Answers Same principle as fingerprints—unique minutiae
patterns.
Why are newborn footprints becoming less common? - Answers DNA identification has
replaced foot printing as the routine method.
Who typically has footprints in databases? - Answers Arrested individuals who do not have
hands.
Are ear prints and lip prints accepted in forensic science? - Answers Not yet—still under study;
not widely accepted or used.
How are ear and lip prints classified? - Answers Using minutiae-based classification similar to
fingerprints.
What are the four common types of fingerprints? - Answers Visible, plastic, latent, and wet.
What creates visible fingerprints? - Answers Friction ridges coated with a substance that
transfers to a surface (e.g., powder, paint, dirt).
What are plastic fingerprints? - Answers 3D impressions left in soft materials like wax, soap, or
putty.
What are latent fingerprints? - Answers Hidden, invisible prints requiring development.
What are wet fingerprints? - Answers Prints made in liquids such as blood.
Do visible prints need processing? - Answers No—they are already recognizable.
Why are fingerprints considered an infallible means of identification? - Answers No two
fingerprints have ever been found identical, even among millions sampled.
When do friction ridge patterns form, and do they ever change? - Answers They form in the 3rd
month of fetal development and never change except to enlarge or be damaged by
disease/mutilation.
Do identical twins have identical fingerprints? - Answers No—same genetics, but different
fingerprints.
What other body prints are unique to individuals besides fingerprints? - Answers Palmprints,
footprints, lip prints, and ear prints.
What is fingerprint identification called? - Answers Dactyloscopy.
What are the three general fingerprint pattern classes? - Answers Loops, whorls, and arches.
What percentage of the population has loops? - Answers 60-65%.
What percentage of the population has arches? - Answers About 5%.
What percentage of the population has whorls? - Answers 30-35%.
What are the types of loop patterns? - Answers Ulnar (toward little finger) and radial (toward
thumb).
What are the four major whorl pattern types? - Answers Plain, central pocket loop, double loop,
accidental.
What key identifying features are found in loops and whorls? - Answers Core and delta.
What are the types of arch patterns? - Answers Plain and tented.
What are minutiae? - Answers Small ridge details like short ridges, bifurcations, dots, and ridge
endings.
What feature ultimately confirms fingerprint identity? - Answers The unique arrangement of
minutiae.
What are fingerprints? - Answers Reproductions of friction skin ridges on the palm side of
fingers and thumbs.
Where else is friction skin found? - Answers Palms and soles of the feet.
What creates the ridge pattern in fingerprints? - Answers Ridges (hills) and grooves (valleys) in
the epidermis + sweat gland pores.
, What deposits fingerprint residue onto surfaces? - Answers Perspiration and oils from eccrine
(sweat) glands.
What is fingerprint residue composed of? - Answers Mostly water (~99%) + amino acids,
proteins, glucose, salts, oils.
How do latent fingerprint development methods work? - Answers Powders or chemicals react
with substances in fingerprint residue.
Can criminals permanently remove friction ridges? - Answers No—acid, surgery, and other
methods fail; ridges grow back or remain readable.
What are palmprints used for? - Answers Identification, especially in major case print files.
Why is there no large palmprint database? - Answers Palmprints aren't routinely collected during
arrests; only major case files include them.
What do major case print files contain? - Answers Full rolled prints of all fingers, palms, sides of
hands, and full handprints.
How are palmprints identified? - Answers Same principle as fingerprints—unique minutiae
patterns.
Why are newborn footprints becoming less common? - Answers DNA identification has
replaced foot printing as the routine method.
Who typically has footprints in databases? - Answers Arrested individuals who do not have
hands.
Are ear prints and lip prints accepted in forensic science? - Answers Not yet—still under study;
not widely accepted or used.
How are ear and lip prints classified? - Answers Using minutiae-based classification similar to
fingerprints.
What are the four common types of fingerprints? - Answers Visible, plastic, latent, and wet.
What creates visible fingerprints? - Answers Friction ridges coated with a substance that
transfers to a surface (e.g., powder, paint, dirt).
What are plastic fingerprints? - Answers 3D impressions left in soft materials like wax, soap, or
putty.
What are latent fingerprints? - Answers Hidden, invisible prints requiring development.
What are wet fingerprints? - Answers Prints made in liquids such as blood.
Do visible prints need processing? - Answers No—they are already recognizable.
