What happens to adjacent ridges when a friction ridge ends?

When a friction ridge ends, the adjacent ridges flow together to fill the void that is created by the termination of the ridge. This phenomenon occurs because the ridges are continuous patterns that follow specific arrangements based on the skin’s structure and the movement of the underlying muscles.

As a friction ridge ends, the structure of the adjacent ridges remains intact, and they adapt to the new boundary by merging smoothly into one another. This continuity is part of the characteristic behavior of ridge patterns, which are designed in such a way as to maintain a seamless flow even at the points where they terminate.

Understanding this behavior is crucial in latent print analysis, as it helps forensic experts identify and interpret ridge patterns accurately, ensuring reliable comparisons and conclusions in criminal investigations.