Lip parameters in Nigerian children

This is a study of lip dimensions in normal Nigerian children. It was carried out at University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria, between January of 1986 and January of 1987. Two hundred and forty children of both sexes and aged from birth to 12 years had parameters relating to the anatomy of the human lip evaluated. The parameters determined included length of the upper vermilion arc, width of the mouth, and heights of the cutaneous upper lip and upper vermilion. All measurements were taken with the lips at rest. The length of upper vermilion arc and mouth width demonstrated a steady increase with age, mean male values being significantly greater than female values at 2 to 3 and 8 to 9 years. The heights of the cutaneous upper lip and upper vermilion showed an initial steady growth up to 6 years, followed by a decline in the rate of growth of the lip. There was a linear relationship between weight and height of the children and upper vermilion arc length, mouth width, and height of the cutaneous upper lip. Objective assessment of the size of the lip and mouth and surgical planning based on established standards are recommended.