What is the dip in your upper lip for?

In most mammals, the philtrum is a narrow groove that may carry dissolved odorants from the rhinarium or nose pad to the vomeronasal organ via ducts inside the mouth. For humans and most primates, the philtrum survives only as a vestigial medial depression between the nose and upper lip.

What is the dip above your lip?

The philtrum is the midline groove in the upper lip that runs from the top of the lip to the nose. The way the philtrum appears is determined genetically.

What is the dip in the middle of your lip?

A Cupid's bow is where the upper lip comes to two distinct points toward the center of the mouth. This looks a bit like the double-pointed bow that Cupid is often depicted holding. Most people have some sort of Cupid's bow, though some are more pronounced than others.

What's the purpose of the philtrum?

The philtrum is believed to serve as a supply of additional skin to be recruited for oral movements requiring stretching of the upper lip. The inferior margin of the philtrum forms the downward arch of the cupid's bow, while the underlying fleshy fullness is known as the tubercle or procheilon.

Why is the philtrum called the love charm?

Physiologists call it the philtrum, which is Greek for "love potion." The Greeks considered that delicate groove to be one of the body's most erogenous spots.

Upper Lip Vs. Lower Lip

What does your philtrum say about you?

Your philtrum deals with such issues as physical energy and drive, longevity, sexual power and also the issue of children and your relationship with them.

Is the philtrum attractive?

There was no significant difference between men and women, with a total of 75% preferring philtral contours, and a greater number of women (82%) finding the philtrum more attractive in the young face; only 68% considered philtral contours as more attractive in the aged portrait.

What ethnicity has Cupid's bow?

What ethnicity has Cupid's bow? The Ancient Greeks' ideal lip featured a dramatic cupid's bow that supported a heavy bulb in the upper lip. The bow matched the upturned corners of the edge of the mouth. It signified luxury.

Why is short philtrum attractive?

A shorter philtrum length with an enhanced cupid's bow is an attribute currently associated with a youthful-looking appearance. It's theorised that the ideal length of the area should be 11-13mm for females and 13-15mm for males, though this varies between individuals.

Why do people have a dent above their lip?

The indent, called the philtrum, is just a residual reminder of your time in the womb: in utero, the two sides of your face develop independent of one another, then join at the middle. When the two sides fail to fuse properly, the result is a cleft palate, which occurs in about 1 of every 750 births.

What does a flat philtrum mean?

Definition. Flat skin surface, with no ridge formation in the central region of the upper lip between the nasal base and upper vermilion border. [

Does the philtrum disappear with age?

The philtrum flattens and the upper lip tends to roll under and in some cases, completely disappear. As we age, we can experience bone loss and muscle atrophy, and increased space between the nostrils and the upper lip—all adding to a complete change of shape in the mouth and lips.

Do most people have a philtrum?

We all have them, though it's puzzled biologists for a long time as to why we do. I'm talking about that odd little groove found below your nose that runs to your top lip. Technically, it's known as your philtrum and it's as ubiquitous to the human face as the nose or eyes.

What ethnicity has the thinnest lips?

With regard to the women, Caucasian lips were found to be thinnest, with the smallest upper lip height and volume. Korean women had the highest ratio of upper lip to lower lip. Chinese women had the thickest lower lip, as well as the greatest upper lip volume.

What is the most desired lip shape?

What is the V in your lips called?

The philtrum (Latin: philtrum from Ancient Greek φίλτρον phíltron, lit. "love charm"), or medial cleft, is a vertical indentation in the middle area of the upper lip, common to therian mammals, extending in humans from the nasal septum to the tubercle of the upper lip.

What causes a deep philtrum?

A long philtrum, thin upper lip, cleft lip, cleft palate, and small jaw are other significant findings associated with abnormal fetal development sometimes caused by chromosome abnormalities, alcohol, or other fetal toxins.

Is philtrum inherited?

The philtrum is the groove that runs from the top of the lip to the nose. The length of the philtrum is passed down from parents to their children through genes.

What is the ideal philtrum?

The space between the upper lip and nose is called the philtrum. The ideal length of the philtrum is roughly a half-inch (11-13 millimeters) for women and a couple millimeters longer for men. At that length, when your lips are relaxed, the tips of your teeth should be visible.

Why does my philtrum stick out?

Answer: Addressing philtrum projection

There are two structural reasons why you may be having this - one is soft tissue, the other is skeletal. The most common is usually skeletal, meaning how the teeth sit (this includes the maxilla and dental tooth complex).

Does a lip flip make your philtrum longer?

Answer: Botox lip flip

Botox is a great option to help flip the upper lip up. To achieve this effect, Botox is injected just above the vermilion border in about 2-3 areas per side of the upper lip. It will not shorten the philtrum, but with the lip flip effect, it will make it look like the philtrum is shorter.

What happens if you hit the philtrum?

YA knife hand strikes to the philtrum, the area just below the nose can have several affects. If the strike has an upward component, it will snap the head back. This movement can injure the cervical spinal column and could cause death. It is commonly known as whiplash.

What is an Italian lip lift?

In an Italian lip lift, two shorter incisions centered directly under each nostril at the base of the nose are created, excess skin is removed, and the skin is sutured within the nostrils. This procedure reduces the space between the upper lip and the nose, and increases the curve of the cupid's bow.

What ethnicities have big lips?

The Swedes and the Danes are famous for their high cheekbones, blonde hair and full, wide lips. Indians have lips that are all over the map. Some of us boast wide, full lips while others have narrow and thin lips. But it is the Africans who take the cake in the lip department.

At what age do lips stop growing?

Understanding Aging Makes Beauty Timeless

Figure 1: In guys, the maximum upper lip thickness is reached around age 16, whereas it maximizes at 14 in girls; however, it begins to thin in both sexes after age 16.