Upper lip
Encyclopedia
The upper lip covers the anterior surface of the body of the maxilla
.
Its upper half is of usual skin color and has a depression at its centre, directly under the nasal septum, called the philtrum
, while its lower half is a markedly different, red-colored skin tone more similar to the colour of the inside of the mouth, and the term vermillion refers to the colored portion of either the upper or lower lip.
It is raised by the Levator labii superioris
and is connected to the lower lip
by the thin lining of the lip itself, which can be seen by opening your mouth wide in front of a mirror.
Thinning of the vermilion of the upper lip and flattening of the philtrum
are two of the facial characteristics of Fetal alcohol syndrome
, a lifelong disability
caused by the consumption of alcohol
during pregnancy.
Anterior surface of the body of the maxilla
The anterior surface is directed forward and lateralward. It presents at its lower part a series of eminences corresponding to the positions of the roots of the teeth...
.
Its upper half is of usual skin color and has a depression at its centre, directly under the nasal septum, called the philtrum
Philtrum
The philtrum , is a medial cleft common to many mammals, extending from the nose to the upper lip, and, together with a glandular rhinarium and slit-like nostrils, is believed to constitute the primitive condition for mammals in general...
, while its lower half is a markedly different, red-colored skin tone more similar to the colour of the inside of the mouth, and the term vermillion refers to the colored portion of either the upper or lower lip.
It is raised by the Levator labii superioris
Levator labii superioris
The levator labii superioris is a muscle of the human body used in facial expression. It is a broad sheet, the origin of which extends from the side of the nose to the zygomatic bone....
and is connected to the lower lip
Lower lip
The lower lip covers the anterior body of the mandible.It is lowered by the Depressor labii inferioris muscle....
by the thin lining of the lip itself, which can be seen by opening your mouth wide in front of a mirror.
Thinning of the vermilion of the upper lip and flattening of the philtrum
Philtrum
The philtrum , is a medial cleft common to many mammals, extending from the nose to the upper lip, and, together with a glandular rhinarium and slit-like nostrils, is believed to constitute the primitive condition for mammals in general...
are two of the facial characteristics of Fetal alcohol syndrome
Fetal alcohol syndrome
Fetal alcohol syndrome is a pattern of mental and physical defects that can develop in a fetus in association with high levels of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Current research also implicates other lifestyle choices made by the prospective mother...
, a lifelong disability
Disability
A disability may be physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, emotional, developmental or some combination of these.Many people would rather be referred to as a person with a disability instead of handicapped...
caused by the consumption of alcohol
Alcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
during pregnancy.
See also
- Stiff upper lipStiff upper lipOne who has a stiff upper lip displays fortitude in the face of adversity, or exercises great self-restraint in the expression of emotion. The phrase is most commonly heard as part of the idiom "keep a stiff upper lip", and has traditionally been used to describe an attribute of British people ,...
- Nasolabial foldNasolabial foldThe nasolabial folds, commonly known as "smile lines" or "laugh lines," are facial features. They are the two skin folds that run from each side of the nose to the corners of the mouth. They separate the cheeks from the upper lip...