Facial Markings and Forms of the Head and Facial Structure

Facial markings

Physical appearance of one's face is affected in part by these; Examples: Wrinkles, Depressions, projections; Help give each of us an individual look; Can be natural or acquired

Natural

born with these markings

acquired

due to aging, environment, lifestyle

Factors responsible for facial markings

Heredity, age, environmental, muscle striation and action, position of the body, condition of the body

Heredity

genetic make-up; due to this, we share similarities with family members

Age

facial markings increase with age. This can be due to loss of muscle mass, stretching of the skin, and how our skin was cared for throughout our life

environmental

exposure to the sun is huge factor. Those who are exposed to excessive amounts of sun throughout life will tend to have a darker complexion with more lines and firmer, less soft skin texture

Muscle striation and action

the more a muscle is worked, the firmer it becomes. The reserve is true if muscles are not worked. They can soften and sag.

Position of the body

objects fall or sag downward in the direction of the earth. Erect position: body parts fall inferior/down. Supine position: body parts sag posterior and lateral

Condition of the body

the state that the decreased body is in when the embalmer receives it can affect facial markings. Sudden weight loss prior to death = more wrinkles and facial sagging; gained weight before death =fewer markings because the stretched skin; disfigured due to accident or disease

Furrow/sulcus/wrinkle

a crevice in the skin bordered by adjacent elevations

Groove

an elongated depression on a relatively level plane or surface

Fold

an elongated prominence adjoining a surface

natural facial markings

- consist of markings present at birth; philtrum, nasolabial fold, nasal sulcus, oblique palpebral sulcus, angulus oris eminence, angulus oris sulcus, labiomental sulcus, submental sulcus, dimples

Philtrum

Natural facial marking; the vertical groove located medially on the upper lip located between the columna nasi and the medial lobe of the mucous membrane of the upper lip

Nasolabial fold

Natural facial marking; the eminence or projection on the cheek adjacent to the corners of the mouth. Extends from the superior part of the posterior margin of the wing of the nose to the side of the mouth

nasal sulcus

Natural facial marking; the angular area between the posterior margins of the wing and the nose of the nasolabial fold

Oblique palpebral sulcus

Natural facial marking; the shallow curving groove inferior to the medial corner of the eyelids, moving laterally downward

angulus oris sulcus

Natural facial marking; the groove at each end of the line of closure of the mouth

Labiolmental sulcus

Natural facial marking; the junction of the lower integumentary lip and the superior border of the chin, which may appear as a furrow

Submental sulcus

Natural facial marking; the junction of the base of the chin and the submandibular area, which may appear as a furrow

Dimples

Natural facial marking; shallow depressions located o the cheek or chin, either rounded or vertical

Acquired facial markings

those markings that developed throughout life as a result of repetitious use of certain muscles; nasolabial sulcus, traverse frontal sulci, interciliary sulci, optic facial sulci, superior palpebral sulci, inferior palpebral sulcus, bucco-facial sulcus, mandibular sulcus, labial sulci, platysmal sulci, cords of the neck

Nasolabial sulcus

Acquired facial marking; the furrow originating at the superior border of the wing of the nose and extending to the side of the mouth

transverse frontal sulci

Acquired facial marking; the furrows that cross the forehead, caused by the actions of the occipitofrontalis muscle

Interciliary sulci

Acquired facial marking; the vertical or transverse furrows between the eyebrows

Optic facial sulci

Acquired facial marking; (crow's feet) the furrows radiating from the lateral corners of the eyes

Superior palpebral sulci

Acquired facial marking; the furrows of the superior borders of the upper eyelid

Inferior palpebral sulcus

Acquired facial marking; the furrow of the lower attached border of the inferior palpebra

Bucco-facial sulcus

Acquired facial marking; the vertical furrow of the cheek

Mandibular sulcus

Acquired facial marking; the furrow beneath the jaw line, which rises vertically on the cheek.

Labial sulci

Acquired facial marking; the vertical furrows of the lips extending from within the mucous membranes into the integumentary lips

Platysmal sulci

Acquired facial marking; the transverse dipping furrows of the neck

Cords of the neck

Acquired facial marking; vertical prominence's of the neck; may be long or short.

What causes loss of form of the head?

1. injury or trauma

2. disease

3. post mortem tissue changes (embalming, swelling, restoration)

How many basic linear profile forms are there?

3

How many variations of the basic linear profile forms are there?

6

convex profile

1. most common type

2. forehead recedes from eyebrows to hairline

3. chin recedes from projection of upper lip

concave profile

1. least common type

2. forehead protrudes from eyebrow to hairline

3. chin protrudes farther than upper lip

vertical profile

forehead, upper lip, and chin project to an imaginary vertical line

convex - concave profile

forehead recedes; chin protrudes

concave - convex profile

forehead protrudes, chin recedes

vertical - convex profile

forehead vertical, chin recedes

vertical - concave profile

forehead vertical, chin protrudes

convex - vertical profile

forehead recedes, chin vertical

concave - vertical profile

forehead protrudes, chin vertical

head form, frontal view

suggestive of a geometric shape

How many head shapes (frontal view) are there?

7

oval (frontal view)

most common, classic egg shape

round (frontal view)

aka infantine; face is full and convex

square (frontal view)

broad with little curvature; forehead and jaws are wide; described as "strong" type

oblong (frontal view)

long and narrow

triangular (frontal view)

least common form; wider between the angles of the jaw than across the forehead

inverted triangle (frontal view)

wide forehead and narrow jaws

diamond (frontal view)

wide cheekbones, narrows at forehead and jaws

bilateral forms of the head

curvature of the face from side to side

What two views show the bilateral forms of the head?

1. inferior position (looking upward from chin, as seen when approaching the casket)

2. superior position (looking downward from head, most accessible position for making a restoration)

surfaces that have a similar bilateral curvature

cheeks, forehead, upper lip, chin

Which surfaces are the key to the bilateral forms?

Cheeks; cheekbones mark the change from the front plane of the face to the side of the face, and all structures seem to radiate from the cheekbones

What role does the nose play in determining bilateral forms?

none

oval bilateral form

most common; gentle curvature from frontal to lateral planes

angular bilateral form

frontal plane is narrow, cheekbones prominent and lateral planes flattened

round bilateral form

broad frontal plane, full curving cheeks

square bilateral form

frontal plane relatively broad, very little curvature; lateral planes also have little curvature

forehead

extends from eyebrows to frontal eminences

crown

area above frontal eminences; location of normal hairline

lateral margins of forehead

created by temples

central forehead plane

gently convex, directly superior to nose and medial ends of eyebrows, extends to frontal eminences

lateral forehead planes

gently convex, narrower than central plane, recede from central plane to lines of temples

Angulus Oris Eminence

the small convex prominence lateral to the end of the line of lip closure of the mouth