Incipient ridges are also known as what type of ridges?

The term "incipient ridges" refers to very young or developing ridge structures that are not fully formed but are nonetheless important in the study of fingerprints. These are often seen in the early stages of ridge development, typically found in the fingerprints of infants or in certain conditions during growth. The words "rudimentary," "subsidiary," and "nascent" all align with this concept. "Rudimentary" suggests basic or underdeveloped structures, "subsidiary" indicates that these ridges may serve a supporting role to more established ridges, and "nascent" reflects the idea of something new that is beginning to develop.

Other terms listed in the other options do not capture the essence of incipient ridges. The terms like "core" and "delta" refer specifically to critical points in a fingerprint pattern, while "primary," "secondary," and "tertiary" pertain to classifications or layers in various contexts but do not relate directly to the concept of early or developing ridge structure. Moreover, "visible," "invisible," and "latent" pertain to the visibility and detection of prints rather than their developmental status. Therefore, the correct identification of incipient ridges as rudimentary, subsidiary, and