Philtrum
| Philtrum | |
|---|---|
| Philtrum of a healthy, one-month-old baby | |
| Philtrum of a domestic dog (marked in red) | |
| Details | |
| Precursor | Medial nasal prominence | 
| Identifiers | |
| TA98 | A05.1.01.007 | 
| TA2 | 222 | 
| FMA | 59819 | 
| Anatomical terminology | |
The philtrum (Latin: philtrum, from Ancient Greek φίλτρον phíltron, lit. 'love charm') or medial cleft is a vertical indentation in the middle area of the upper lip, common to therian mammals, extending in humans from the nasal septum to the tubercle of the upper lip. Together with a glandular rhinarium and slit-like nostrils, it is believed to constitute the primitive condition for at least therian mammals. Monotremes lack a philtrum, though this could be due to the specialised, beak-like jaws in living species.