Lip prints - An aid in identification

Lip prints are unique to each individual. They remain the same throughout life and are uninfluenced by environmental changes, diseases and trauma. The present study was conducted at Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, India among 200 randomly-selected medical students belonging to age group of 18-25 years. The sample consisted of 100 north Indians (50 males and 50 females) and 100 south Indians (50 males and 50 females). The lip prints were documented as per Suzuki's classification. Type II was the most commonly occurring lip print pattern and type V was the rarest. Type I and type I' patterns were more common in males and Type II, type III, type IV and type V patterns were more common in females. Type III and type IV patterns were predominant in north Indians while type II was predominant in south Indians. No significant relation exists between the lip prints and blood group pattern of an individual. Results of the study showed that lip prints are individualistic, and bears a relationship with sex and geographical distribution of the individual. Thus, lip prints can be useful as evidence in the court of law.