The term used for characteristics in friction ridge detail that lead to identification is called?

The term "minutiae" refers to the specific features and details found within friction ridge patterns that are crucial for the identification of fingerprints. These characteristics include ridge endings, bifurcations, dots, islands, and various other formations in the ridges that can be examined for comparison purposes. The presence and arrangement of these minutiae create a unique fingerprint for each individual, which is why they are pivotal in forensic investigations and the identification process.

Minutiae are employed by latent print examiners to match and differentiate fingerprints, establishing a strong link between an individual and a crime scene. The uniqueness of these features is supported by the fact that no two fingerprints have the same arrangement of minutiae, making them integral to identity verification in forensic science. Understanding minutiae also helps examiners communicate effectively about fingerprint details when documenting and analyzing prints.

Other options like "defects," "patterns," and "ridge features" may refer to different aspects of fingerprint analysis but do not specifically denote the characteristics that lead to an individual’s identification as directly as minutiae do.