There are people who have a prominent or large upper lip, and I know you have probably wondered what caused their upper lip to be so large or bigger than normal.
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And what of people whose lower lips are shorter than normal; Too too short lips. And of course, you are also among others that want to know what causes such abnormality.
The upper lip can also be called the philtrum, and today’s article will explain all you need to know about the philtrum; its variations in different people, its development, and what causes its largeness in some sets of people, as well as every other thing you need to know about the philtrum.
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The Philtrum – What is it?
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. This groove is shortened in people with certain conditions.
The philtrum (Latin word from Ancient Greek, meaning “love charm”), also known as the medial cleft, is just a vertical depression in the middle part of the top lip that is widespread in therian mammals and extends in human beings from the nasal septum towards the tubercle of the top lip.
Development of the Philtrum
During embryonic development, the philtrum is produced when the naso-medial and maxillary processes connect. A cleft lip may occur if these processes do not completely merge.1Sullivan KE, Buckley RH. Primary defects of cellular immunity. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020: chap 151.
Functions of the Philtrum
The philtrum is a thin groove in most animals that may transport dissociated odorants out from the nose pad or rhinarium to the vomeronasal organ through ducts inside the mouth.
The philtrum persists solely as just a vestigial medial dip between the upper lip and nose in humans and most primates.
The human philtrum, which is surrounded by ridges, is also referred to as the infra-nasal depression, although it serves no use. This could be due to the fact that most higher primates depend on eyesight rather than smell. Unlike monkeys and apes, strepsirrhine primates such as lemurs maintain the philtrum and rhinarium.
Variations of the Philtrum
A philtrum that is flattened or smooth may be a sign of Prader-Willi syndrome or fetal alcohol syndrome.
A study of males experiencing autism spectrum disorders discovered that a wider-than-usual philtrum is one of a group of physical characteristics related to autism.
Causes of Long/Short or Abnormal Philtrum
The way the philtrum appears is determined genetically. In some syndromes, this groove is shortened.
This condition can also be caused by the following:
- Chromosome 18q deletion syndrome
- Cohen syndrome
- DiGeorge syndrome
- Oral-facial-digital syndrome (OFD)
Tests to Diagnose an Abnormal (long or short) Philtrum
The following are used to test and diagnose for long or short philtrum:
- Chromosome studies
- Enzyme tests
- Metabolic studies on both mother and infant
- X-rays
If your health provider diagnosed a short or long philtrum, you may want to note that diagnosis in your personal medical record.
Treatment of Abnormal Philtrum
Home Care
No home care is needed for a short philtrum, in most cases. However, if this is only one symptom of another disorder, follow your healthcare provider’s instructions on how to care for the condition.
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Contact your provider if you notice a short philtrum on your child.
What to Expect at Your Office Visit
An infant with a short philtrum may have other symptoms and signs. Taken together, these may define a specific syndrome or condition. The provider will diagnose that condition based on family history, medical history, and physical exam.
Medical history questions may include:
- Did you notice this when the child was born?
- Have any other family members had this feature?
- Have any other family members been diagnosed with a disorder associated with a short philtrum?
- What other symptoms are present?
All right, guys, that is it for now for philtrum. I hope Healthsoothe answered any questions you had concerning the philtrum.
Feel free to contact us at contact@healthsoothe.com if you have further questions to ask or if there’s anything you want to contribute or correct to this article.
You can always check our FAQs section below to know more about philtrum.
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Additional resources and citations
- 1Sullivan KE, Buckley RH. Primary defects of cellular immunity. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020: chap 151.
