sormenjäljestä

Sormenjäljestä, often translated as fingerprint, refers to the unique patterns of ridges and furrows found on the tip of each finger and thumb. These patterns are formed during fetal development and remain unchanged throughout an individual's life, making them a highly reliable method for identification. The three main classifications of fingerprints are loops, whorls, and arches, with further sub-classifications within each category.

The primary application of fingerprints is in forensic science, where they are used to identify suspects in criminal investigations. Fingerprints can be left behind on surfaces at a crime scene, and these latent prints can be lifted and analyzed. Databases of known fingerprints are maintained by law enforcement agencies to compare against unknown prints found at scenes. Beyond forensics, fingerprints are also used for personal identification in various contexts, such as access control systems and national identification programs. The study and comparison of fingerprints is known as dactyloscopy.