Microvascularisation of lips in ageing edentulous subjects

Macroscopic changes of the lips in the edentulous elderly subject are accompanied by variations in their microvascularisation. This study was undertaken on histological or clarified sections from totally edentulous subjects whose vascular system was injected with Indian ink agar. A reduction in density and size of the superficial (papillary or mucosal) and deep (reticular or submucosal) networks is observed with age. These changes are to be seen in relation to imaging and to the reduction in occlusal potential of the lips.