A fingerprint examiner must distinguish a plain whorl from a central pocket loop whorl. According to Henry's system, the decisive criterion is:

• A The height of the core above the lowest ridge
• B Whether the line joining the two deltas crosses or touches the innermost sufficient recurving ridge ✓
• C The total number of ridges counted between the core and the delta
• D Whether the pattern occupies more than half of the digit breadth

Explanation

Henry separated these whorl variants by a simple geometric test: draw an imaginary line between the two deltas. If that line cuts across, or just touches, the innermost sufficient recurving ridge, the pattern is a plain whorl. If the line passes clear of every recurving ridge, it is a central pocket loop. Ridge counts and core height play no part in this distinction.

Reference: Parikh's Textbook of Medical Jurisprudence, Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, 9th ed.

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