Lip prints (cheiloscopy)

Abstract

External surface of the lip has many elevations and depressions forming a characteristic pattern called lip prints, examination of which is referred to as cheiloscopy. This is unique for individuals like the finger prints. The biological phenomenon of systems of furrows on the red part of the human lips was first noted and described by anthropologist R.S. Fischer, in 1902. However until 1930, anthropology merely mentioned the existence of furrows without suggesting a practical use for the phenomenon. Since 1950, the Japanese have carried out extensive research in this matter. In the period 1968 to 1971, Y.T Suchhihashi and T. Suzuki examined 1364 persons at the department of forensic odontology at Tokyo university and established that the arrangement of lines on the red part of the human lips is individual and unique for each human being. Lip print recording is helpful in forensic investigation that deals with identification of humans, based on lip traces. A lip print may be revealed as a surface with visible elements of lines representing the furrows. This characteristic pattern helps to identify the individuals since it is unique for individuals. When the lines are not clear (Only the shape of lines is printed), individual identification of human being based on this trace is extremely difficult, unless the trace contains more individual characteristics like scars, clefts etc, and often identification ends with group identification.