Cheiloscopy:

An aid for
personal
identification
 Cheiloscopy is a forensic investigation technique that
deals with identification of humans based on lip prints.

 ‘Cheilo’ is a greek word which means lips, ‘scopy’ is to

observe.

 Lip prints are normal lines and fissures in the form of

wrinkles and grooves present in the zone of transition of
human lip, between the inner labial mucosa and outer
skin, examination of which is known as cheiloscopy.
 Historical background
 The biological phenomenon of systems of furrows on the red part of
human lips was first noted by anthropologist R. Fischer in 1902.

 In 1932 Edmond Locard recommended utilization of lip prints in personal

identification during investigations.

 Until 1950, however, anthropology merely mentioned the existence of

the furrows without suggesting a practical use for the phenomenon.

 Synder mentioned in his book Homicide Investigate that characteristics

of lip formed by lip groves are as individualistic as fingerprint ridges.

 In the period 1968-1971 two Japanese scientists, Y. Tsuchihashi and T.

Suzuki examined 1364 persons at the Department of Forensic
Odontology at Tokyo University.
 In further research the Japanese scientists examined the
principles of the heredity of furrows on the red part of lips.

 It was in Hungary during 1961 that the first research in Europe

was carried out in the subject of lip prints. (*)

 Cheiloscopic research was also carried out by specialists in

anthropology, odontology, forensic medicine and forensic science
in Brazil, Iran, Hungary, France, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom,
the Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia.

 The results of this research constitute the proof of lip-print

individuality and also of its usefulness for criminalistic
identification.
 In Poland, the interest in lip prints started in 1966 when a lip
print was revealed on window glass at the scene of a burglary.
Research was carried out, and its results were comparable to
those achieved in Japan and Hungary.

 A project aiming at an objective of more comprehensive

cheiloscopic system was launched in 1982, in the Forensic
Institute of Warsaw University Criminal Law Department, in
cooperation with the former Forensic Institute of Militia in
Warsaw. (*)

 The examination determined methods for revealing and securing

the traces of the lips, methods of acquiring the comparative
material, and, more importantly, detailed methods of
cheiloscopic expertise.
 Since 1985, in Poland, the methods of finding and
recovery of lip traces, recovering comparative material,
and the techniques employed to carry out that
expertise have been introduced into casework of the
Fingerprint Department, of the Central Forensic
Laboratory of Police in Warsaw.

 During the years 1985-1997, cheiloscopic techniques

have been used in 85 cases, including 65 burglary cases,
15 cases of homicide, and five cases of assault. (*)
 Subject and scope
 A lip print may be revealed as a stratified surface trace with
visible elements of lines (furrows). In this case a trace has the
shape of a print the individuality of its properties make it possible
to individually identify a human being.

 In the case when the lines are not clear (only the shape of the lips
is printed), individual identification of a human being based on
this trace is extremely difficult (unless the trace contains more
individual characteristics, e.g. scars), and often identification ends
with group identification.

 In these cases it is possible to examine the substance which

constitutes the trace e.g. saliva, as a biological trace. The
potential for DNA typing from the lip print is evidentially here.
However, this process has yet to be explored in depth.
 If the lips are covered with remains of food or cosmetics and the
lines are printed unclearly, the trace will have the shape of a stain,
and can be subjected to chemical examination, in order to
determine the substance covering the lips.

 In this sense lip prints have the same value as dactyloscopic

(fingerprint) traces. In the case of traces in the shape of stains the
identification examination terminates with group identification.

 Apart from identifying and evidential use, lip prints may also be
used in detection work, being the source of tactical and
criminalistic information.

 A lip print at the scene of a crime can be a basis for conclusions as

to the character of the event, the number of the people involved,
sexes, cosmetics used, habits, occupational traits, and the
pathological changes of lips themselves.
 Use of Lip Prints in Crime
Detection
 A trace of this kind can only be revealed at the point of direct,
physical contact of the perpetrator’s lips with an object at the
scene of a crime. This trace should be looked on cutlery and
crockery items, particularly if a meal was eaten at the scene of a
crime.
 In practice, lip prints have also been revealed on the surface of
windows, paintings, doors, plastic bags and cigarette ends.
 Finding and recovery of lip traces is not difficult. The techniques
used in fingerprinting are very good for the purpose.
 The taking of control prints from the suspect (comparative
material) is also not difficult.
classification
Identification and comparison