Dentoword : Today's Word is 'Lips'

 Welcome to Dentoword:

Learn your dental terms with detailed explanation
 

Today's word is "Lips"

Lips : "The main Gateway To Enter The Oral Cavity."

As you know, the lips are an important part of the oral mucosa. As we discussed in our previous post about the oral mucosa, they are covered by lining mucosa. Today, we are going to discuss the lips in detail.

Definition :

The lips are the soft, visible part of the human mouth and comprise the upper and lower lips.

Anatomy of the Lips:

• The epithelium of the mucosa of the lips is stratified squamous non-keratinized epithelium.
• Vermillion Zone: It is a transitional zone between the skin of the lip and the mucous membrane of the lip, known as the red zone or vermillion zone. The line that separates the skin from this zone is called the vermillion border (cupid's bow in the case of the upper lip). It is found only in humans.

• Muscles: The lips are attached firmly to the buccinator muscle and the orbicularis oris.
• Glands: The glands of the lips are mixed in nature, meaning they produce both types of secretions, serous and mucous. Sebaceous glands and very few sweat glands are also found in between.

Functions of the Lips:

• Protection:

Both the upper and lower lips act as a gate, allowing entry to useful substances while serving as a barrier to harmful ones.

• Eating: 

The lips help to guide food into the mouth with a proper grasp and also assist in biting with the support of the lips.

• Speech:

The lips aid in the articulation of speech.

• Facial Expressions: 

The lips help convey our emotions through expressions, such as smiling.

Common Lip Conditions and Developmental Conditions:

A.Cleft Lip:

• Cleft lip can occur with or without a cleft palate.
•  It is a malformation of the lips due to improper fusion of embryonic processes.

B.Congenital Lip Pits:

Pits may result from notching of the lips at an early stage of development.

C.Double Lip: 

• Double lip is characterized by a fold of excess tissue on the inner mucosal aspect of the lip. 
• It may be congenital or acquired due to trauma.

D.Cheilitis Glandularis: 

Lip enlargement in cheilitis glandularis is attributable to inflammation, hyperemia, edema, and fibrosis.

E.Cheilitis Granulomatosa:

• Cheilitis granulomatosa is a chronic, non-tender swelling of the lips due to granulomatous inflammation. 
• It is a potential predisposing factor for the development of lip cancer.

F.Angular Cheilitis: 

• Angular cheilitis is characterized by inflammation and painful cracks at the corners of the mouth. 
• It is often caused by fungal or bacterial infections, nutritional deficiencies, defective dentures.

G.Chapped Lips: 

Chapped lips are due to dryness or dehydration. Most people suffer from chapped lips in the winter season.

H.Pale Lips:

Pale lips can indicate anemia.

Care and Maintenance:

• Hydration: Drink plenty of water to keep your lips hydrated and moist.

• Sun Protection: Use lip balm with SPF to protect against the sun. It forms a layer between the outer environment and your lips, preventing direct exposure to harmful particles.

• Healthy Diet: Include all necessary vitamins and nutrients in your diet to fulfill your body's requirements.

• Stop Smoking: Smoking can dry or desiccate the lips and also increase the risk of cancer.

Interesting Facts about Lips:

1.Unique Identification: Did you know our lips are as unique as our fingerprints? Lip prints can be used as evidence at a crime scene to search for a culprit.

2.Lack of Sweat Glands: Lips have very few sweat glands, which is why they easily become dry, leading us to lick our lips to moisten them.

3.High Sensitivity: The skin on our lips is much thinner than the skin on the rest of our body. It is the most sensitive part of our human body due to the abundance of nerve endings in it.

4.Rich Blood Supply: The red or pinkish color of our lips is due to the blood vessels underneath the skin.

Conclusion:

Lips play a significant role in our daily lives and oral health. By understanding their anatomy and function, and by learning how to care for them, we can maintain a bright smile at all times.

Request to Readers: 

Explore more about oral health and dental terminology by visiting our blog daily and leave your valuable feedback in the comment section. Thank you!

References:

1. Shafer's Textbook of Oral Pathology,B Sivapathasundharam

Elsevier Health Sciences -9th edition(2020)

2.Orban's Oral Histology & embryology , 15th edition , G S Kumar,Elsevier.

3.image credit:https

://ijdvl.com/cheilitis-glandularis/

4.image credit : www.shutterstock.com.