International Journal of Forensic Odontology

ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Year
: 2017  |  Volume : 2  |  Issue : 1  |  Page : 9--12

Prevalence of different subtypes of type II lip prints among students of saveetha dental college


Meenakshi Mohan, TN Uma Maheswari 
 Department of Oral Medicine, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Correspondence Address:
Meenakshi Mohan
Department of Oral Medicine, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
India

Abstract

Background: Cheiloscopy, the study of lip prints, is a forensic technique for personal identification. Uniqueness of lip prints such as fingerprints helps to detect the identity of an individual. Various studies about lip prints have been conducted. The present study was conducted to establish the prevalence of subtypes of Type II variety of lip print. Aim: The aim of the study is to find the prevalence and different types of Type II lip prints among 100 individuals from Saveetha Dental College. Objective: To assess the prevalence of Type II variety of lip print. To identify which subtype of Type II lip print is commonly seen. To find whether there is any significant difference in subtypes of Type II lip print between male and female and to evaluate the most common subtype of Type II lip print seen in each compartment of lips. Result: Type IIa is more common among both males and females, followed by Type IIb and then Type IIc . Conclusion: This study has defined the subvarieties of Type II lip prints that were not given by studies of Yasuo Tsuchihashi. Result: Type IIa is more common among both males and females, followed by Type IIb and then Type IIc . Conclusion: This study has defi ned the subvarieties of Type II lip prints that were not given by studies of Yasuo Tsuchihashi.



How to cite this article:
Mohan M, Uma Maheswari T N. Prevalence of different subtypes of type II lip prints among students of saveetha dental college.Int J Forensic Odontol 2017;2:9-12


How to cite this URL:
Mohan M, Uma Maheswari T N. Prevalence of different subtypes of type II lip prints among students of saveetha dental college. Int J Forensic Odontol [serial online] 2017 [cited 2024 Mar 29 ];2:9-12
Available from: https://www.ijofo.org/text.asp?2017/2/1/9/205253


Full Text



 Introduction



Personal identification of an individual is becoming increasingly important in legal, medicolegal, and criminal investigations and in genetic research.[1] The methods involved in personal identification include anthropology, DNA fingerprinting, and blood group identification.[2] Like fingerprints, lip prints are unique to every individual. Lip prints are the physiological wrinkles and grooves on the sulci labiorum which forms a characteristic pattern.[3] The study of lip prints is known as cheiloscopy. It is derived from a Greek word “cheilos” meaning “lips” and “skopein” meaning “to see.” Cheiloscopy is a method of identification of a person based on the arrangement of lines on the red part of the lips.[4]

The biological pattern of human lips was first noticed and reported by an anthropologist, R. Fischer, in 1902 but failed to suggest its practical use in identification.[5] France's greatest criminologist, Edmond Locard, was the one who recommended the use of lip prints in criminalization.[6] The idea of using lip prints in identification was first given by a forensic expert from California, Le MoyneSynder in 1950's.[7] In 1972, Mc Donell reported that two identical twins had different lip prints.[8] In 1990, Kasprazak elaborated the practical use of lip prints in a crime scene from glass, cigar butts, and cutlery.[9]

Santos, in 1967, was the first to classify lip patterns into four types:[10] straight line, curved line, angled line, and sine-shaped line.

Suzuki and Tsuchihashi, in 1970s, conducted a study and arrived at a classification which was considered to be standard:[11]

Type I: Clear cut groove running vertically across the lipType I': Partial length groove of Type IType II: Branched grooveType III: Intersected grooveType IV: Reticular patternType V: Other patterns.

There are several modifications in these patterns which are not studied much so far. A study has reported the prevalence of different varieties of Type V lip prints.[12] No such studies have reported the different varieties in Type II lip prints. Thus, this study was conducted to document the prevalence of different varieties of Type II lip prints among population. There is a need for such specific studies on lip prints to draw more evidence for forensic purposes.

 Materials and Methods



Study location

The study was carried out among the students of Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.

Study subjects

The study comprised a group of randomly selected 100 students, of which 50 were male and 50 were female. The participants were informed about the procedure prior and informed consent was obtained.

Inclusion criteria

Students with no active or inert lip lesionsStudents with no known hypersensitivity to lipsticksStudents willing to participate in the study.

Exclusion criteria

Students with known hypersensitivity to lip printsStudents with active or passive lip lesionsStudents not willing to participate.

Study procedure

A uniform film of lipstick was applied over the clean and dry lips with the students' mouth open. The student was then asked to rub both upper and lower lips to spread the lipstick uniformly. The glued side of the cellophane tape was cut and placed over the lips, and a gentle pressure was applied from center to the corner of the lips for few seconds by dabbing. The cellophane tape was then carefully removed to avoid wrinkles and struck over a white sheet of paper. The participants were then given wet tissues and Vaseline to wipe off their lips.

Study methodology

The lip prints were scanned using Hp scanner of 200 DPI resolutions and stored for records. The analysis of these lip prints was done manually with the help of magnifying lens. Typing of lip prints was done using Tsuchihashi classification.[11] The lip was divided into four quadrants with three compartments on each quadrant. Hence, 12 compartments were examined from each lip print [Figure 1]. Type 2 lip prints were classified further into three subtypes (Type IIa-Downward fork, Type IIb-Upward fork, and Type IIc-Double sided fork).{Figure 1}

 Results



Six hundred compartments of male and 600 compartments of female prints were examined for Type II patterns. Among males 132/600 compartments and among females 158/600 compartments had Type II lip prints [Figure 2].{Figure 2}

Among the 132 compartments in males that had Type II lip prints, 85 compartments possessed Type IIa, 31 compartments possessed Type IIb, and 16 compartments possessed Type IIc. Among the 158 compartments in females that had Type II prints, 99 compartments possessed Type IIa, 41 compartments possessed Type IIb, and 18 compartments possessed Type IIc. This reveals that Type IIa is more common among both males and females, followed by Type IIb and then Type IIc [Figure 3].{Figure 3}

 Discussion



The study reveals Type I (36%) lip prints is common among males, followed by Type II (25%), Type III (20%), Type V (11%), and Type IV (8%). In females, Type II (32%) lip prints are common, followed by Type I (26%), Type III (21%), Type IV (12%), and Type V (9%). There was no similar pattern of lip print seen between any individuals. Thus, all 100 students had their own lip print pattern. Hence, lip print can aid for personal identification just like fingerprints.[13]

This study concentrates more on Type II lip prints. Tsuchihashi described Type II lip print as vertical line bifurcating downward and upward in the lower and upper lip, respectively. In our study, Type II lip prints were categorized as a vertical line with fork upward in both upper and lower lip as Type II a, vertical line with fork downward in both upper and lower lip as Type IIb, and vertical line with fork upward and downwards as Type IIc.

[Table 1] and [Table 2] show the distribution of the different subtypes of Type II lip print among the 12 compartments in males and females. [Table 3] shows that Type IIa is commonly seen in lower left middle (LLM) compartment in both males and females. Type IIb is common in upper right center (URC) and lower right middle compartments in males and URC compartments in females. Type IIc is common in LLM compartment in male and LLM and lower left center compartment in females. This shows that each subtype is almost commonly seen in that particular compartment in both males and females. Type IIa was found to be more common in both males and female. Type IIb is the next common and Type IIc is the least common among both males and females [Figure 3].{Table 1}{Table 2}{Table 3}

Several studies on lip prints were done. Studies have showcased the significance of lip prints in personal identification [14] and its use in criminal and forensic practices.[15] Studies have compared lip prints with blood group,[16] fingerprints,[17] age, gender, and family.[3] Most of the studies have concentrated on the most commonly prevailing type of lip prints using Tsuchihashi classification among male and female. In a study of lip print patterns on fifty males and fifty females, it was found that Type IV was the most common in both sexes.[18] In another study, Type II lip prints were most common among both males (31.6%) and females (43.7%).[19] A study done by Uma Maheswari and Gnanasundaram [19] for a period of 1 year showed consistency of lip patterns without any gross changes. The study has concluded that there was no similarity of lip prints even among siblings. A study by Suzuki et al.[20] and Uma Maheswari and Gnanasundaram [19] found no significant similarities of lip prints even among twins. Another study demonstrated the different subvarieties of Type V lip prints and their prevalence among male and female.[12] There is no specific study about different varieties of Type II lip prints so far. In a study by Uma Maheswari and Gnanasundaram,[19] the presence of subvarieties of Type II lip prints was first reported. With this reference, this study was carried out to evaluate the occurrence of different subvarieties of Type II lip prints among males and females.

 Conclusion



The present study has established that Type IIa is more common and Type IIc is less common among both males and females. These subvarieties of Type II prints can aid in the identification of criminalization. Thus, this study has defined the subvarieties of Type II lip prints that were not given by studies of Yasuo Tsuchihashi. Further studies can concentrate of different varieties of other lip print patterns which can add quintessence on to Tsuchihashi classification, thus making cheiloscopy a more precise and a unique one.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

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