ABSTRACT
context: Cheiloscopy is the study of lip print patterns and can aide in identification and gender determination of the individuals. aim: The current study was aimed at knowing different lip groove pattern distribution, their relation with gender identification in the studied individual. settings and design: Lipstick used from middle line of lips and then to lateral sides. Then prints of both lower and upper lips were collected together on cellophane tape. materials & method: The samples collected randomly in this study belonged to 53 healthy selected individuals who were mainly of student population aged between18-25 of both sexes of North - West Faridabad region. Every lip print was divided into 4 Quadrants (QI, QII, QIII, QIV) according to the method given by Santos.1 Examination of lip prints were done under direct light using magnifying hand tool. Y. Tsuchihashi and K. Suzuki2 method was then applied for classifying the lip print samples into four different lip prints. statistical analysis used: The statistical package for social sciences 16 (SPSS 16) was used for the analysis of the data. results: The dominant pattern was found to be Branched (Type II) among quadrants I, II and III while Intersecting pattern (Type III) was found highest in quadrant IV. Vertical type lip pattern was least dominant and found only on 1.9% and 5.5% in quadrant I and quadrant II respectively of study population. conclusions: Identification of lip print patterns can be used as tool among the subjects of this region. key message: Lip prints presence on scene of crime can confirm the presence of that specific individual on the scene, thus allowing to link crime scene with the suspect, victim and individualizing the suspect.