Human Malformation Terminology

Standard Terminology for the Head and Face

The appearance of facial morphology varies considerably with facial expression and movement, and depending on the position of the observer and observed person. When assessing a feature, the head of the observed person should be held in the Frankfurt horizontal, with the facial and neck muscles relaxed, eyes open, lips making gentle contact, and facial expression neutral. The face of the observer should be at the same height as the face of the observed person. A detailed description of the anatomic features of the head and face is available for reference.

The definitions are listed alphabetically based on the physical feature, not the modifier.