Ylähuulet

Ylähuulet, in Finnish, refers to the upper lip. It is the portion of the lip located above the mouth opening, extending from the nose to the vermilion border. The upper lip helps shape the mouth’s opening, contributes to facial expression, and plays a role in speech and eating. Its distinctive red color comes from the translucent vermilion tissue overlying the lip’s rich blood supply.

Anatomically, the upper lip consists of a skin-covered exterior and a mucous membrane lining the interior, with a central core containing the orbicularis oris muscle that acts as a sphincter around the mouth. The contour is formed by muscles that elevate and shape the lip, including the levator labii superioris, levator labii superioris alaeque nasi, and zygomaticus minor, among others. The philtrum is the vertical groove in the midline, and the vermilion border marks the transition between skin and mucosa.

Vascular and neural supply support the upper lip. The arterial supply mainly comes from the superior labial artery, a branch of the facial artery, with venous drainage into facial veins. Sensation is provided by branches of the trigeminal nerve, primarily the infraorbital nerve (V2), while motor control of the lip muscles is via the facial nerve (CN VII).

Clinically, the upper lip is relevant in discussions of facial expression, articulation, and oral health. Common conditions include injuries or lacerations to the lip and congenital cleft lip. Variations in color or shape are typically benign but can be of cosmetic interest.