What is a characteristic of ridge flow in friction ridges?

A characteristic of ridge flow in friction ridges is that it flows in concert. This means that the ridges follow a consistent and well-organized pattern as they form on the skin of fingers and palms. The design of these ridges is not random; they display a clear direction and arrangement that reflects the underlying biological and genetic factors of an individual.

Understanding the organized nature of ridge flow is crucial for forensic applications, particularly in the analysis and comparison of latent prints. When latent prints are examined, the patterns, or flows, can reveal important information about the functional and aesthetic similarities in the dermal ridges of different fingers.

The other choices suggest various inconsistent features of ridge flow, which do not accurately describe the structured and predictable nature of how these ridges form and interact.