Minutiae
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Minutiae, in fingerprinting terms, are the points of interest in a fingerprint, such as bifurcations (a ridge splitting into two) and ridge endings. Examples are:
- ridge endings - a ridge that ends abruptly
- ridge bifurcation - a single ridge that divides into two ridges
- short ridges, island or independent ridge - a ridge that commences, travels a short distance and then ends
- ridge enclosures - a single ridge that bifurcates and reunites shortly afterward to continue as a single ridge
- spur - a bifurcation with a short ridge branching off a longer ridge
- crossover or bridge - a short ridge that runs between two parallel ridges
Minutiae also refers to any small or otherwise incidental detail.
