Level 2 detail in fingerprint analysis consists of which of the following?

• A. Ridge path details involve only the location and direction.
• B. Ridge path: Galton characteristics (ending ridge, bifurcation, dot) location, type, direction, and relationship
• C. Ridge path includes delta and core positions only
• D. Ridge attributes such as edge shape and pores

Answer: (B)

Level 2 detail covers the specific ridge-path minutiae that uniquely identify a fingerprint. It includes Galton characteristics—ending ridges, bifurcations, and dots—and records not just where they are but also their type, the direction the ridge is traveling at that point, and how the minutia relate to neighboring ridges. This combination of location, type, direction, and relational context is what allows precise comparison beyond the general pattern. Limiting to location and direction misses the essential minutia type and how it connects to surrounding ridges; delta and core positions are broader pattern features (Level 1), and features like edge shape or pores belong to higher-detail categories (Level 3).