natural and acquired facial markings

facial markings

the “character” lines of the face and neck; wrinkles, grooves, cords and dimples

factors responsible for facial markings

heredity, age, environment, muscle striation and action, position of the body, condition of the body

trauma

a physical injury or wound caused by external force or violence

pathological condition

diseased, due to disease

corpulence

having an abnormal amount of fat on the body

emaciation

excessive leanness, a wasted condition resulting in sunken surfaces in the face

sulcus

a furrow, wrinkle or groove

furrow (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

nasolabial sulcus

the angular area between the posterior margin of the wing of the nose and the nasolabial fold

transverse frontal sulci

furrows which cross the forehead, may mimic the form of eyebrows, caused by the actions of the occipitofrontalis muscle

intraciliary sulci

the vertical or transverse furrows between the eyebrows, often used to indicate frowning

optic facial sulci (crow’s feet)

the furrows radiating from the lateral corner of the eye, may appear straight or curved

superior palpebral sulcus

the furrows of the superior border of the upper eyelid, appears at the outer end of the eyelid

inferior palpebral sulcus

the furrow of the lower attached border of the inferior palpebral, eyebags

bucco-facial sulcus

the vertical furrow of the cheek, originates above the line of lip closure and may extend slightly below the line of lip closure

mandibular sulcus

the furrow beneath the jawline which rises vertically on the cheek

labial sulci (furrows of age)

the vertical furrows of each lip extending from within the mucous membranes into the integumentary lips

platysmal sulci

the transverse, dipping furrow of the neck, double chin

cords of the neck

vertical prominences of the neck (long or short), turkey neck

philtrum

vertical groove located medially on the superior (upper) lip between columna nasi and medial lobe of upper mucous membrane, located on maxilla

nasolabial fold

the anterior fold of the cheek which descends laterally along the upper lip from the wing of the nose, smile lines

nasal sulcus

the angular area between the posterior margin of the wing of the nose and nasolabial fold

oblique palpebral sulcus

shallow curving groove inferior to medial corner of eyelids, moving laterally downward

angulus oris eminence

small, convex prominence found lateral to the end of the line of closure of the mouth

angulus oris sulcus

small triangular shaped depression immediately adjacent to line of lip closure, recedes into line of lip closure

labiomental sulcus

junction of lower integumentary lip and superior border of chin, which may appear as a furrow

submental sulcus

junction of the base of chin and submandibular area, which may appear as a furrow

dimples

shallow depressions located on cheek or chin, either rounded or vertical