Labial Morphology: A 3-Dimensional Anthropometric Study
Purpose
To develop a noninvasive 3-dimensional method to evaluate labial morphology and to assess gender-related differences in healthy young adults.
Materials and Methods
Dental and lip impressions of 11 men and 10 women aged 21 to 34 years, with sound, full, permanent dentition were obtained. The models were digitized and 3-dimensional virtual reproductions obtained. The labial thickness, vermilion area, and volume of the upper and lower lips were measured from the digital reconstructions. The male and female data were compared using Student's t test.
Results
The mean lip thickness was significantly larger (P = .02) in men (14.3 mm) than in women (12.3 mm). The lower lip was thicker than the upper lip. The vermilion width was larger in men (75 mm) than in women (70 mm), and no differences were found for vermilion height (10 mm). In the upper lip, the height/width ratio was significantly larger in women (14.1%) than in men (12.3%). The vermilion surface area was slightly larger in men than in women (upper lip area: women, 467 mm2; men, 501 mm2; lower lip area: women, 491 mm2; men, 569 mm2). The labial volume was significantly larger in men (upper lip, 2,390 mm3; lower lip, 2,902 mm3) than in women (upper lip, 1,743 mm3; lower lip, 1,764 mm3; P = .021). The upper/lower lip area and volume ratios were similar in the 2 genders.
Conclusions
Overall, men had larger lips than women. The inferior lip height/width ratio was similar in both genders, and men had a relatively thinner upper lip than women.
⁎Professor of Human Anatomy, Functional Anatomy Research Center, Laboratorio di Anatomia Funzionale dell'Apparato Stomatognatico, Dipartimento di Morfologia Umana, Università degli Studi di Milano Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Milano, Italy
†Postgraduate Student, Functional Anatomy Research Center, Laboratorio di Anatomia Funzionale dell'Apparato Stomatognatico, Dipartimento di Morfologia Umana, Università degli Studi di Milano Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Milano, Italy
‡Research Assistant, Functional Anatomy Research Center, Laboratorio di Anatomia Funzionale dell'Apparato Stomatognatico, Dipartimento di Morfologia Umana, Università degli Studi di Milano Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Milano, Italy
§Assistant Professor, Functional Anatomy Research Center, Laboratorio di Anatomia Funzionale dell'Apparato Stomatognatico, Dipartimento di Morfologia Umana, Università degli Studi di Milano Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Milano, Italy
‖Professor of Human Anatomy, Functional Anatomy Research Center, Laboratorio di Anatomia Funzionale dell'Apparato Stomatognatico, Dipartimento di Morfologia Umana, Università degli Studi di Milano Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Milano, Italy
Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr Sforza: Functional Anatomy Research Center, Laboratorio di Anatomia Funzionale dell'Apparato Stomatognatico, Dipartimento di Morfologia Umana, Università degli Studi di Milano Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Via Mangiagalli 31, Milano I-20133 Italy
ABSTRACT