One of the two fleshy folds that form the entrance to the mouth and help shape speech.
Structure
Each lip has a thin red zone called the vermilion border where the skin meets the oral mucosa. Beneath the surface lies the orbicularis oris muscle, which encircles the mouth.
Function
Lip movements shape the sounds of consonants such as p, b, and m and provide an airtight seal that lets us suck through a straw or hold food in the mouth.
Clinical note
The lips have a rich nerve supply, making them very sensitive to pain and temperature. Cleft lip is a common congenital malformation that can be repaired surgically in infancy.
Find more body parts by letter
Lip starts with L and ends with P. Browse other body parts along the same letter.
Body Parts that contain a letter from "Lip":