Philtrum

Philtrum

Infobox Anatomy
Name = Philtrum
Latin =
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Caption = Philtrum highlighted in sunlight


Caption2 =
Precursor = medial nasal prominence [EmbryologyUNC|hednk|032]
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DorlandsPre = p_17
DorlandsSuf = 12635445
The philtrum (Greek "philtron" (φιλτρον), from "philein" (φιλειν), "to love; to kiss"), also known as the "infranasal depression", or "Bruce's Fossa" is the vertical groove in the upper lip, formed where the nasomedial and maxillary processes meet during embryonic development.

The philtrum allows humans to express a much larger range of lip motions than would otherwise be possible, which enhances vocal and nonverbal communication.Fact|date=May 2008

Pathology

When these processes fail to fuse fully, a cleft lip (sometimes called a "hare lip", or "meermeer") can result.

A flattened or smooth philtrum can be a symptom of Fetal alcohol syndrome. [ [http://casaa.unm.edu/fas/FAS-cln2.html FAS Clinical ] ]

Etymology

The ancient Greeks used to believe that the philtrum was one of the most erogenous spots on the human body, hence the etymology. [eMedicineDictionary|Philtrum]

Mythology

According to the Jewish Talmud (Niddah 30b), God sends an angel to each womb and teaches a baby all the wisdom that can be obtained. Just before the unborn baby comes out, the angel touches it between the upper lip and the nose and all that it has taught the baby is forgotten.

Commentaries on this particular story can be found in "What the Angel Taught you" by Rabbi Noah Weinberg and Yaakov Salomon (ISBN 1-57819-134-3).

Similarly, in other folksayings, it is said that an angel "shushes" the baby in the womb, to stop it from talking about heaven, or to forget. Other stories say that it is an indent left by the finger of God. Still more say that it is the spot where the angel put his finger to "shush" the child after having told it a secret. (This was memorably referenced in the film "The Prophecy" by the arch-angel Gabriel (Christopher Walken).)

ee also

*Philtrum moustache
*Mouth
*Globular process

References


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Philtrum — Als Philtrum (auch Philtron; von griech. φίλτρον [philtron] „Liebeszauber“) wird in der Anatomie die vertikale Rinne bezeichnet, die sich von der Nase über die Mitte der Oberlippe herabzieht. Es entsteht während der Embryonalentwicklung durch das …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Philtrum — Le philtrum (du grec philtron (φιλτρον), de philein (φιλειν), aimer;embrasser ) désigne la fossette située au milieu de la lèvre supérieure de l homme. On appelle communément Arc de Cupidon l arc de cercle que dessine le philtrum sur la lèvre… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Philtrum — (gr.), Liebestrank …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • philtrum — Latin form of PHILTRE (Cf. philtre), sometimes used in place of it. Plural is philtra …   Etymology dictionary

  • philtrum — [fil′trəm] n. pl. philtra [fil′trə] the vertical indentation between the upper lip and the nose …   English World dictionary

  • Philtrum — The area from below the nose to the upper lip. Normally the philtrum is grooved. In fetal alcohol syndrome, the philtrum is flat. * * * 1. A philter or love potion. 2. [NA] The infranasal depression; the groove in the midline of the upper lip. [L …   Medical dictionary

  • Philtrum — Phil|trum* das; s, ...tren <über lat. philtrum aus gleichbed. gr. phíltron, eigtl. »Liebeszauber«> Einbuchtung in der Mitte der Oberlippe (Med.) …   Das große Fremdwörterbuch

  • philtrum —    In the anatomy of the human face, the area below the septum of the nose down to the upper lip. The philtrum is comprised of a pair of vertical ridges (also called the philtral columns) separated by a vertical groove (also called the philtral… …   Glossary of Art Terms

  • Philtrum — panosės vagelė statusas T sritis gyvūnų anatomija, gyvūnų morfologija atitikmenys: lot. Philtrum ryšiai: platesnis terminas – viršutinė lūpa sinonimas – viršutinės lūpos vagelė …   Veterinarinės anatomijos, histologijos ir embriologijos terminai

  • Philtrum Press — ist ein amerikanischer Kleinverlag mit Sitz in Bangor (Maine), der durch den Schriftsteller Stephen King betrieben wird. In unregelmäßigen Abständen publiziert Philtrum Press Werke von King, meist in Form von sammelnswerte und (meist) signierten …   Deutsch Wikipedia

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