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Searching the Web for a word that you don't know or can't recall -- although you're pretty sure it exists -- is always a tactical challenge. Be prepared to search, scan, and experiment with search terms, as we did, to discover the nifty bit of facial anatomy called the philtrum. We began our search with the language of your question and then tried variations: These search results were frustrating and mostly unproductive. We found advice for portrait painters and recommendations for those considering facial plastic surgery or body piercing. So we were relieved when one particular search query -- "indentation above the lip below the nose" -- came up with a link to Metafilter, a lively and popular "community blog" where a collection of civilized people gather to discuss diverse interests. In the midst of a conversation about beards, mustaches, and facial
hair, somebody asked your question: "...does anyone know what you call the area between the upper lip and the nose where, er, the moustache grows?" Another participant offered the answer: philtrum (and quoted their source). Once we'd discovered the correct term, we searched again on the word itself, to double-check and verify the definition. Here's a detailed definition from the MEDLINEplus Medical Encyclopedia, provided by the U.S. National Library of Health: The philtrum is the midline groove in the upper lip that runs from the top of the lip to the nose. The way the philtrum appears is determined
genetically. We were especially glad to find this authoritative medical definition because neither of our usual online dictionaries -- the American Heritage Dictionary from Yahoo! Reference and the Merriam Webster Online -- had it listed. We also found a definitive Lip-Philtrum Guide, designed for use by medical professionals, that illustrates a variety of philtrums from the highly dimpled to the almost smooth.
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