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The human face has about 20 main facial muscles, also known as craniofacial muscles, which are essential for chewing and making facial expressions. These muscles are located all over the face and can be categorized by their general location. They are the buccolabial muscles in and around the mouth, the nasal muscles around the nose, the epicranial muscles of the forehead, skull and neck, the auricular muscles around the ears, and the orbital muscles surrounding the eyes. The facial muscles are innervated by the facial nerve (cranial nerve VII) and vascularized by the facial artery.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of facial muscles | 20 |
| Muscle function | Control facial expressions, chewing, speaking, and eating |
| Muscle type | Flat skeletal muscles |
| Muscle location | Underneath the skin of the face and scalp |
| Muscle origin | Bones or fibrous structures of the skull |
| Muscle insertion | Skin |
| Muscle groups | Buccolabial, Nasal, Epicranial, Auricular, Orbital, Muscles of facial expression, Muscles of mastication |
| Muscle movement | Independent lower facial movement |
| Muscle weakness | Temporary condition or serious medical problem |
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What You'll Learn
- The human face has 20 main muscles, known as craniofacial muscles
- Facial muscles are innervated by the facial nerve (cranial nerve VII)
- Facial muscles control facial expressions and are the only muscles that attach to the dermis
- There are two types of facial muscles: muscles of facial expression and muscles of mastication
- Facial paralysis is the loss of voluntary muscle action and can be caused by a stroke or cancer
The human face has 20 main muscles, known as craniofacial muscles
The facial muscles are a group of flat, striated skeletal muscles supplied by the facial nerve (cranial nerve VII) that, among other things, control facial expression. They generally originate from the surface of the skull bone and insert on the skin of the face. When they contract, the skin moves. These muscles also cause wrinkles at right angles to the muscles' action line.
The facial muscles can be categorized by their general location:
- Buccolabial muscles in and around the mouth
- Nasal muscles around the nose
- Epicranial muscles of the forehead, skull and neck
- Auricular muscles around the ears
- Orbital muscles surrounding the eyes
The facial muscles work together to control the parts of the face. They help in opening and closing the mouth and eyes, thus protecting the delicate structures of the face. The muscles of facial expression are unique because they originate from bones and insert in the dermis, manipulating the skin and soft tissues. In contrast, other skeletal muscles move the bones.
Some of the facial muscles include the orbicularis oculi, which is the fastest-moving muscle in the human body, the depressor anguli oris, the buccinator, and the orbicularis oris.
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Facial muscles are innervated by the facial nerve (cranial nerve VII)
The human face is composed of a group of about 20 flat skeletal muscles lying just under the skin of the face and scalp. These muscles are responsible for controlling facial expressions. They originate from the surface of the skull bone and insert on the skin of the face. When they contract, the skin moves, and wrinkles form at right angles to the muscles' action line.
The facial muscles are innervated by the facial nerve, also known as the seventh cranial nerve (CN VII). This nerve arises from the brain stem and extends posteriorly to the abducens nerve and anteriorly to the vestibulocochlear nerve. The facial nerve provides motor innervation to the muscles of facial expression, allowing us to smile, frown, wrinkle our nose, and raise our eyebrows. It also provides parasympathetic innervation to the glands of the oral cavity and the lacrimal gland, and sensory innervation to the anterior two-thirds of the tongue.
The facial nerve carries both motor and sensory fibres. The motor axons innervate the muscles of facial expression, such as the orbicularis oris muscle, which closes the lips, and the buccinator muscle, which compresses the cheek. The facial nerve also innervates the stapedius muscle of the middle ear, which stabilizes the stapes in response to loud sounds.
Damage to the facial nerve can result in facial paralysis, also known as palsy, on the involved side. This damage can occur due to various conditions such as stroke, Bell palsy, parotid salivary gland cancer, surgery, or trauma. Preserving the facial nerve during surgeries is crucial, especially when working around certain tumours and lesions.
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Facial muscles control facial expressions and are the only muscles that attach to the dermis
The human face is composed of several muscles that enable facial movements, such as smiling, grinning, and frowning. These muscles, known as mimetic muscles, are striated skeletal muscles that lie just beneath the skin of the face and scalp. They are unique in that they are the only muscles that attach to the dermis, allowing them to manipulate the skin and soft tissues to produce various facial expressions.
Facial muscles are supplied by the facial nerve (cranial nerve VII), with each nerve serving one side of the face. They generally originate from the surface of the skull bone and, unlike other skeletal muscles, they do not have a surrounding fascia. Instead, they radiate from the bones or fibrous structures of the skull and insert into the skin of the face. When these muscles contract, they cause the skin to move and can also lead to the formation of wrinkles at right angles to their action line.
The facial muscles can be categorized into several groups based on their location and function. For instance, the orbital group contains muscles associated with the eye socket and the movement of the eyelids, such as the orbicularis oculi muscle. The nasal group includes muscles like the nasalis, depressor septi, and dilator naris, which are involved in movements of the nose and the surrounding skin.
The oral group, which includes muscles such as the orbicularis oris and buccinator, is responsible for movements of the mouth and lips. These muscles are essential for functions like speaking, eating, and producing facial expressions. For example, the orbicularis oris muscle surrounds the mouth and forms the majority of the lips, allowing for movements like puckering and twisting.
Damage to the facial nerve can result in paralysis of the facial muscles, impairing the ability to form facial expressions and speak. This paralysis can occur due to various conditions, such as stroke, Bell palsy, or parotid salivary gland cancer, as the facial nerve travels through this gland.
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There are two types of facial muscles: muscles of facial expression and muscles of mastication
The human face has around 30 muscles on each side, which are responsible for essential daily functions like eating and expressing emotions. These muscles are categorised into two types: the muscles of facial expression and the muscles of mastication.
The muscles of facial expression, also called mimetic muscles, are a group of about 20 flat skeletal muscles lying just under the skin of the face and scalp. They are the only muscles that attach to the dermis. Most of them originate from the bones or fibrous structures of the skull and radiate to insert on the skin. They are positioned around the facial openings (mouth, eyes, nose and ears) or stretch across the skull and neck. When they contract, the skin moves, creating facial expressions such as smiling, grinning and frowning. The specific location and attachments of these muscles enable them to produce a wide range of facial expressions.
The muscles of facial expression are unique because they originate from bones and insert into the dermis, manipulating the skin and soft tissues. In contrast, other skeletal muscles move the bones. Additionally, these muscles have a higher fast-twitch fibre concentration and fewer mitochondria than other muscles. The orbicularis oculi and zygomaticus major are the fastest-moving muscles in the human body.
The muscles of mastication, or chewing muscles, are a group of powerful muscles that work together to enable the complex process of chewing and swallowing food. They include the temporalis, masseter, and pterygoid muscles, which are deeper muscles that work to depress the mandible, or lower jawbone, and facilitate its protrusion and side-to-side movement. The buccinator muscle, while primarily a muscle of facial expression, also assists in mastication by compressing the cheek against the molar teeth and keeping food pushed back within the oral cavity.
The muscles of facial expression are innervated by the facial nerve (CN VII), while the muscles of mastication are innervated by the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve (CN V3). This distinction in innervation is largely determined by the muscles' embryonic origin.
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Facial paralysis is the loss of voluntary muscle action and can be caused by a stroke or cancer
The human face contains a group of striated skeletal muscles known as the facial muscles. These muscles are supplied by the facial nerve (cranial nerve VII), which controls facial expressions such as smiling, frowning, and closing the eyes. Damage to the facial nerve can result in facial paralysis, which is the loss of voluntary muscle action. This damage can be caused by a stroke or, more rarely, by cancer.
A stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted due to a blocked or ruptured blood vessel. This interruption in blood flow can lead to a lack of oxygen and subsequent damage to brain tissue and nerves. In the context of facial paralysis, a stroke can cause damage to the facial nerve inside the brain, resulting in paralysis on one or both sides of the face. The severity of post-stroke facial paralysis varies, ranging from mild weakness to complete paralysis.
Cancer-related facial paralysis is typically associated with tumours in the head and neck region, particularly those affecting the parotid salivary gland. The parotid gland is the largest salivary gland and is located under the skin of the cheek. While most tumours in this area are benign, cancer can occasionally occur, either originating in the parotid gland (primary parotid cancer) or spreading from other sites such as the skin (metastatic parotid cancer). Skin cancers, such as basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma, can also contribute to cancer-related facial paralysis.
Surgical procedures to remove tumours, such as a radical parotidectomy, may also inadvertently damage the facial nerves, leading to facial paralysis. Radiation therapy for cancer in the head and neck area can similarly damage healthy tissues and nerves, resulting in facial paralysis. Additionally, compression from tumours or swollen lymph nodes can exert pressure on the facial nerves, impairing their function and potentially leading to paralysis.
Facial paralysis, whether caused by a stroke or cancer, can significantly impact an individual's ability to convey emotions through facial expressions. Treatments for post-stroke facial paralysis include physical therapy, surgical interventions such as nerve transfers or muscle transplants, medications such as corticosteroids, and BOTOX injections to manage muscle coordination and symmetry. In cases of cancer-related facial paralysis, facial reanimation surgery can be performed to improve facial function and symmetry.
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Frequently asked questions
There are 20 main facial muscles, also known as craniofacial muscles, in the human face. They are essential for chewing and making facial expressions.
Facial muscles are a group of flat skeletal muscles lying just under the skin of the face and scalp. They are supplied by the facial nerve (cranial nerve VII) and are responsible for controlling facial expressions.
Some examples of facial muscles include the orbicularis oris muscle, which closes the lips, and the buccinator muscle, which compresses the cheek. The depressor anguli oris muscle is another example and it acts to depress the angle of the mouth, contributing to expressions of sadness or anger.
