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Mini Review Journal of Forensic Medicine and Legal Affairs
Cheiloscopy - An Overview of its Limitations and Future Perspectives
Manas Bajpai*, Nilesh Pardhe, Betina Chandolia and Manika Arora
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, NIMS Dental College, Jaipur, India
Received Date: April 14, 2016, Accepted Date: May 30, 2016, Published Date: June 09, 2016.
*Corresponding author: Manas Bajpai, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, NIMS Dental College, Jaipur, India, Tel: 918-302-382-133; E-mail:
dr.manasbajpai@gmail.com
Keywords: Cheiloscopy; Lip Prints; Limitations
Introduction
In forensic identification, the mouth allows for a myriad of
possibilities. The grooves present on the human lips are unique to
each person and can be used to determine identity [1]. The study of
these grooves or furrows present on the red part or the vermilion
border of the human lips is known as cheiloscopy [2]. Lip print
analysis is a process that provides both qualitative and quantitative
results thus its application in the forensic field should be widely
accepted by both law enforcement and the legal professionals [1].
This article discusses the utility and limitations of lip prints in
human identification.
The Procedure
Lip prints at the crime scene can be obtained from glass, cutlery,
clothes, cigarette butts, doors, windows etc. Lip prints were first
classified by Santos into two categories However Tsuchihashi [4]
proposed a separate classification dividing the pattern of grooves
into six types (Table 1). This classification considers the best, as it
provides more detailing and can be easily understood.
Lipsticks, cellophane tape, white bond paper and magnifying
glass were used. Lipsticks are used conventionally to make
impressions; However Alvarez and associates [4] have shown
that aluminum powder and magnetic powders can also be used to
develop and visualize the lip prints. The anatomical landmarks of
lip include chelion, stomion, labrale superius and labrale inferius
(Figure 1).
Classification
Type I Clear cut vertical grooves that run across the entire lip
Type I’ Similar to type I, but do not cover the entire lip
Type II Branched grooves
Type III Intersected grooves
Type IV Reticular grooves
Type IV Grooves that cannot be morphologically differentiated
Table 1: Tsuchihashi’s classification.
Stomion
Labrale superius
Labrale inferius
Chelion
Figure 1: Anatomical landmarks of lip.
J For Med Leg Aff
Copyright: © 2016 Bajpai M, et al.
Open Access
First lipstick is evenly applied over the lips, then impression is
made from the middle portion of the lip on a strip of cellophane
tape on glued portion [1]. These impressions are stuck over white
bond paper, these impressions served as permanent record; finally
impressions were visualized under magnifying lens according to
Tsuchihashi’s classification (Table 1). To simplify recording lips
are divided into quadrants. The Tsuchihashi’s classification and the
above described method enable differentiation of lip print pattern
between two individuals [4].
Limitations of Cheiloscopy
Lip prints have to be obtained within 24 hours of the time of
death to prevent the postmortem changes of the soft tissues. Lip
print patterns depend upon whether the mouth is opened or
closed. In closed mouth position, lip prints exhibit well defined
grooves while in later position of the mouth exhibits ill defined
lip prints which may be difficult to interpret. Any pathology of lip
such as mucocele, ulceration, chelitis granulomatosa, (Malkersson
Rosenthal Syndrome [5]) congenital lip pits, clefts, tumors, etc may
alter the pattern of lip prints. Post surgical scars can change the
lip print patterns. Ball has stated that the vermilion border of lip
has minor salivary glands and edges of lips have sebaceous glands
and sweat glands, secretion of oil and moisture may lead to the
formation of latent lip prints, which may lead to erroneous data
[6]. Kavitha, et al. stated that loss of support due to loss of anterior
tooth may alter the pattern of lip prints [7]. Any debris on lip surface
may alter the lip print recording [8]. Application of thick layer of
lipstick and over stretching of the cellophane on the lip surface may
alter the recordings. Anatomic position of labial grooves close to
vermilion border is a movable zone, so the prints made may differ
in the appearance depends upon the pressure applied and the
direction of the pressure [8,9]. Bajpai M and associates discussed
the inter observer variability which may influences the lip prints
recording [1].
Future Perspectives
Although lip prints are unique to individual like fingerprints but
further studies are needed to address the uniqueness of lip grooves
also more human characteristics should be included like post
surgical scars, crusting of lips, congenital lip pits, clefts etc [10].
References
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determination of sex and inter observer variability.  Euro J Exp
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2. Reddy LVK. Lip prints: An overview in forensic dentistry.  J Adv Dental
Research. 2011;2(1):17-20.
3. Verghese AJ, Somasekar M, UmeshBabu R. A study on lip prints types
among the people of Kerala. J Indian Acad Forensic Med. 2010;32(1):6-7.
4. Tsuchihashi Y. Studies on personal identification by means of lip prints.
Forensic Sci. 1974;3(3):233-48.
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*Corresponding author: Manas Bajpai, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, NIMS Dental College, Jaipur, India, Tel: 918-302-382-133;
E-mail: dr.manasbajpai@gmail.com
Received Date: April 14, 2016, Accepted Date: May 30, 2016, Published Date: June 09, 2016.
Copyright: © 2016 Bajpai M, et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted
use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Citation: Bajpai M, Pardhe N, Chandolia B, Arora M (2016) Cheiloscopy - An Overview of its Limitations and Future Perspectives. J For Med Leg Aff 1(2): 106.

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