Final answer:
The ridge pattern of a fingerprint is determined by its loop, whorl, or arch configuration, with unique minutiae such as sharp processes and holes providing individual distinctions. To answer what the ridge pattern of the fingerprint at Anna Garcia's crime scene is, forensic examination of these details is necessary.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine left at Anna Garcia's crime scene, one would need to examine the pattern that the ridges on the fingerprint form. In forensic science, fingerprint patterns are key identifiers, and there are several common types of patterns including loops, whorls, and arches. Each pattern has unique characteristics. For example, a loop pattern has ridges that enter from one side of the finger, curve around or upward, and exit on the same side. A whorl pattern may appear circular and contains two deltas, while an arch pattern has ridges that flow from one side to the other, rising slightly in the center.
The process of accurately matching a fingerprint at a crime scene, such as the one at Anna Garcia's, involves a meticulous examination of the minutiae within these ridge patterns, including sharp processes, small, rounded processes, rough surfaces, slight, elongated ridges, and holes and depressions. These details help forensic experts distinguish between individual fingerprints since fingerprints are unique to each individual due to the way they're formed in utero, where the epidermal cells meet the papillae in the dermal layer. Moreover, once formed, these ridge patterns do not change with growth or age, making them reliable markers for identification.