Philtrum

Philtrum
Philtrum of a healthy, one-month-old baby
Philtrum of a domestic dog (marked in red)
Details
PrecursorMedial nasal prominence
Identifiers
TA98A05.1.01.007
TA2222
FMA59819
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.