International Journal of Current Advanced Research

ISSN: O: 2319-6475, ISSN: P: 2319-6505,

6505, Impact Factor: 6.614
Available Online at www.journalijcar.org
Volume 7; Issue 10(A); October 2018;
2018 Page No. 15740-15742
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.24327/ijcar.2018
//dx.doi.org/10.24327/ijcar.2018.15742.2885
Research Article
ROLE OF LIP PRINTS IN PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION
Shilpa Jain1., Arpit Jain2 and Umesh Palekar3
1Department of Prosthodontics, Crown & Bridge & Implantology, CDSH, Rau, Indore M.P
2Department of Oral Medicine & Radiology
3Department of Prosthodontics,
Prosthodontic Rural Dental College, Loni (M.H)
M.H)
AR T IC L E I NF O AB ST RA CT

Article History: Background and objective: Study of lip Prints in Forensic Identification (Chelioscopy)
th
deals with the study of grooves on the lips. Lip Prints are important tool for the individual
Received 13 July, 2018 identification as they are unique. This study aims at determining the lip print pattern as an
Received in revised form 11th August, 2018 adjunct to individual identification
ication in crime investigation.
Accepted 8th September, 2018 Aim and Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the lip print
Published online 28th October, 2018 pattern among the individuals in central India. Materials and Method: Hundred Individuals
(50 males and 50 females) of age group 17-25 25 years were selec
selected randomly. Dark coloured
Key words: lipstick was applied on the upper and lower lips after which the lip print was taken on a
bond paper. Lip print was then analysed with a magnifying glass.
Lip Prints, Chelioscopy, Forensic Odontology,
Result:
forensic identification, groove Conclusion:: although lip print patterns can be used for personal identification in forensics,
more research in this direction needs to be conducted to confirm its uniqueness. Therefore,
chelioscopy needs to be done on the larger sample size using new technology.

Copyright©2018 Shilpa Jain.,, Arpit Jain and Umesh Palekar.

Pale 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.

INTRODUCTION The present study aims in determining predominant lip

patterns among the study group and to validate its use in
Personal identification plays an important role in investigation forensics.
at the crime scene. Identification is defined as determination of
individuality of a person1. It may be complete (Absolute) or AIM and Objectives
incomplete (partial). Complete identification means the
absolute fixation of individuality ty of a person. Partial The aim of this study was to determine the uniqueness of the
identification implies ascertainment of only some facts about lip print pattern and also the predominant lip print pattern
the identity while others remain unknown. Experts that can among the population in central India.
help in the identity of an individual include pathologists,
physicians, dentists, anatomists, physical anthropologists
anthropo etc.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The study comprises of 100 individuals (50 males, 50 females)
Identification of a living is usually carried out by a police. But,
of age range 17-5050 years of age who visited the out patient
when medical knowledge is needed for solving any disputed
department of a dental institute in central India. Indivi
Individuals
case, consultation from a medical professional may be taken.
who gave consent for the study were selected, while those who
The need to identify an individual may be required in the
refused to give consent or those with any lip scar, lip lesion or
natural mass disasters like earth quakes, tsunamis,
tsunamis landslides,
pathosis were excluded from the study.
floods etc., or in man-made
made disasters such as terrorist attacks,
bomb blasts, mass murders, or in cases ases when the body is Dark coloured lip stick was applied on both the lips and
highly decomposed or dismembered to deliberately conceal the individuals were then askedked to make the lip print on butter
identity of the individual [1]. Traditional methods for paper21.The lip print on the middle part of about 10 mm was
identification include- anthropometry, finger prints, sex considered for the study as there are more chances of
determination, age estimation, blood group identification etc. pathology in the lateral part21. Lip lines and furrows, branching
The study of lip prints is important in that they are unique (like pattern and combinations were analysed according to
finger prints or palatal rugae) in individuals except in i Tsuchihashi classification.
monozygotic twins. So, like fingerprints, lip print
Type I- vertical, comprising of complete longitudinal fissures.
identification can also be considered in forensics for personal
Type I’- Incomplete longitudinal fissures
identification.
Type II- Branching Y’ shaped pattern
*Corresponding author: Shilpa Jain Type III- criss cross pattern
Department of Prosthodontics, Crown & Bridge & Type IV- Reticular, typical chequered pat
pattern, fence like
Implantology, CDSH, Rau, Indore M.P
 International Journal of Current Advanced Research Vol 7, Issue 10(A), pp 15740-15742, October 2018

Type V- all other patterns in accordance with similar studies conducted by Tsuchihashi &
Suzuki 3,9 and various other authors 10-15.
Each lip print was compared with other to check the
uniqueness. Lip print of an individual does not comprise of a single pattern,
rather it is a combination of various types.9
RESULT
Ball (2002) reported the history of lip prints and its importance
Comprehensive evaluation of lip prints revealed that these are
in the forensics. Lip prints are present in all crime scenes as
unique to each individual. Lip print of each individual showed
they contain sebaceous glands and minor salivary glands.20
different pattern.
Table I Percentage distribution of each type of lip print But lip prints are rarely mentioned at the crime scene as most
pattern in females: of the investigators consider fingerprints as unidentifiable. In
our study, we used the method described by Kumar GS et al
Lip print
Quadrant 1 Quadrant 2 Quadrant 3 Quadrant 4 (2012) as it was easy to use and accurate.25
type
Type I 8 10 5 5 In our study, we found that Type I and II lip patterns were
Type II 13 12 8 2 more predominant in females. While in males, Type III and
Type III 7 9 1 1
Type IV 8 7 1 3 type IV pattern predominate. This finding was in accordance to
Type V 0 0 0 0 the study by Kumar et al (2012). However, in our study, no
type V pattern was present among females. While, in males
Table II Percentage distribution of lip print pattern in 5% have type V lip pattern. This finding was against the study
males by Molano et al13, J. Augustine et al15 in which type III pattern
Lip print type Quadrant 1 Quadrant 2 Quadrant 3 Quadrant 4 was most common pattern.
Type I 3 2 1 0
Type II 9 9 8 3 Manipady S12 studied lip prints in 100 subjects of both Indian
Type III 0 5 11 14 as well as Chinese origin (50 males, 50 females of age group
Type IV 5 5 15 10 18-22 years) and concluded that the distribution is unaffected
Type V 3 0 2 0
by sex or origin. In their study, type II pattern was the most
Table III One sample ‘T’ test for different lip patterns common pattern.

Sex Mean
Standard T P We found that the most common lip print pattern was type II
deviation Value Value which was in contrast to the study by Verghese et al16 in which
Male 21 -14.3353 10.3585 0.0001
Female 20 13.17194 10.7366 0.0001
type IV lip print pattern was more common. In a study by RV
Prabhu19, the most predominant pattern was type V, followed
Table IV Percentage calculation for different lip print by Type I, Type II, Type III. While type III was most common
pattern in male and female group pattern in the study carried out by Prakash P.A.
Percentage Percentage According to our study, all the lip prints were distinct and no
Type
(Male) (Females)
identical lip prints were observed in any two individuals.
Type I 6 28
Type II 29 35
Type III 30 18
CONCLUSION
Type IV 30 19 Our study proves that the study of lip print patterns can be
Type V 5 0
used for identification of sex and identification of individual as
Statistical analysis used for the study was one sample ‘T’ test. they remain stable and unique over time. Further studies are
One sample T test was used to check the difference between required for the accurate assessment of lip print patterns.
males and females for different lip patterns and significance
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How to cite this article:
Shilpa Jain., Arpit Jain and Umesh Palekar (2018) 'Role of Lip Prints In Personal Identification', International Journal of
Current Advanced Research, 07(10), pp. 15740-15742. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.24327/ijcar.2018.15742.2885

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