Logan Steele
The zygomaticus major muscle is a facial muscle that extends between the zygomatic bone and the angle of the mouth. It is one of two zygomatic muscles, the other being the zygomaticus minor muscle. The zygomaticus major muscle is involved in creating facial expressions such as smiling, laughter, disdain, contempt and smugness. It is also associated with the formation of cheek dimples in some individuals.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of muscle | Facial muscle |
| Muscle group | Buccolabial muscle group |
| Muscle pair | Zygomaticus major and zygomaticus minor |
| Muscle location | Cheek area |
| Muscle function | Elevates the angle of the mouth in the upward and lateral directions |
| Muscle contraction | Produces facial expressions of pleasure or laughter |
| Muscle appearance | Fan-shaped |
| Muscle variations | Single-headed or bifid |
| Muscle size | Increases in size and thickness in males and individuals with higher BMIs |
| Muscle blood supply | Arterial blood supplied by the facial artery and its superior labial branch |
| Muscle nerve supply | Zygomatic and buccal branches of the facial nerve (CN VII) |
| Muscle association | Formation of cheek dimples and raising the upper lip to bare the upper teeth |
| Muscle use in surgery | Used in reconstructive surgery to replace lost tissue, such as with injuries to the lips |
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What You'll Learn
- The zygomaticus major muscle is involved in creating a smile
- The zygomaticus major muscle is associated with the formation of cheek dimples
- The zygomaticus major muscle raises the upper lip to bare the upper teeth
- The zygomaticus major muscle is a fan-shaped muscle
- The zygomaticus major muscle is supplied with arterial blood by the facial artery
The zygomaticus major muscle is involved in creating a smile
The zygomaticus major muscle is a facial muscle that extends between the zygomatic bone and the angle of the mouth. It is one of two zygomatic muscles, the other being the zygomaticus minor. Both muscles lie next to each other in the cheek area.
The zygomaticus major muscle is also associated with the formation of cheek dimples in some individuals. It is thought that cheek dimples are caused by a bifid zygomaticus major muscle, which is when the muscle occurs in a bifid form, with two fascicles that are partially or completely separate from each other but adjacent.
The main action provided by the zygomaticus major muscle is the elevation of the angle of the mouth in the upward and lateral directions. Contractions of this muscle produce facial expressions of pleasure or laughter.
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The zygomaticus major muscle is associated with the formation of cheek dimples
The zygomaticus major muscle is a paired facial muscle that extends between the zygomatic bone and the angle of the mouth. It is one of two zygomatic muscles, the other being the zygomaticus minor. Both muscles lie next to each other in the cheek area. The zygomaticus major muscle is classified as the buccolabial muscle. When activated, the muscle is involved in creating a facial expression known as the smile. The main action of the zygomaticus major muscle is the elevation of the angle of the mouth in the upward and lateral directions. Contractions of this muscle produce facial expressions of pleasure or laughter. The nerve supply of the zygomaticus major is provided by the zygomatic and buccal branches of the facial nerve (CN VII). The muscle receives arterial supply from the superior labial artery. The zygomaticus major muscle may occur in a bifid form, with two fascicles that are partially or completely separate from each other but adjacent. It is thought that cheek dimples are caused by bifid zygomaticus major muscle. The zygomaticus major muscle raises the upper lip to bare the upper teeth. It additionally deepens and raises the nasolabial furrow. Acting in conjunction with other muscles of facial expression that elevate the lip, it curls the upper lip to produce facial expressions such as smiling, disdain, contempt, or smugness. The average muscle can contract with a force of 200 g. The zygomaticus major muscle may be used in reconstructive surgery to replace lost tissue, such as with injuries to the lips.
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The zygomaticus major muscle raises the upper lip to bare the upper teeth
The zygomaticus major muscle is a facial muscle that extends between the zygomatic bone and the angle of the mouth. It is one of two zygomatic muscles, the other being the zygomaticus minor, and both lie next to each other in the cheek area. The zygomaticus major muscle is involved in creating a smile. It does this by raising the upper lip to bare the upper teeth, deepening and raising the nasolabial furrow, and curling the upper lip. The muscle is also associated with the formation of cheek dimples in some individuals.
The zygomaticus major muscle is typically fan-shaped and may be single-headed or bifid in nature. It increases in size and thickness in males and in patients with increasing BMIs. The muscle receives arterial supply from the superior labial artery and is supplied with nerve signals by the zygomatic and buccal branches of the facial nerve (CN VII).
The zygomaticus major muscle is classified as a buccolabial muscle, a subset of the facial muscles. It joins with the muscle fibres of levator anguli oris, orbicularis oris and the more deeply placed muscular bands to move the side of the mouth upwards and sideways during facial movements such as laughing.
The zygomaticus major muscle may be used in reconstructive surgery to replace lost tissue, such as with injuries to the lips.
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The zygomaticus major muscle is a fan-shaped muscle
The main action of the zygomaticus major muscle is to elevate the angle of the mouth in the upward and lateral directions. Contractions of this muscle produce facial expressions of pleasure or laughter. It is involved in creating a smile, raising the upper lip to bare the upper teeth, and deepening and raising the nasolabial furrow. Acting in conjunction with other muscles of facial expression that elevate the lip, it curls the upper lip to produce facial expressions such as smiling, disdain, contempt, or smugness.
The zygomaticus major muscle is associated with the formation of cheek dimples in some individuals. Cheek dimples are thought to be caused by a bifid zygomaticus major muscle, which has two fascicles that are partially or completely separate from each other but adjacent. The muscle increases in size and thickness in males and in patients with increasing BMIs.
The nerve supply of the zygomaticus major is provided by the zygomatic and buccal branches of the facial nerve (CN VII). It receives arterial supply from the superior labial artery, a branch of the facial artery.
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The zygomaticus major muscle is supplied with arterial blood by the facial artery
The zygomaticus major muscle is a thin, fan-shaped muscle that extends diagonally from the zygomatic bone to the angle of the mouth. It is one of two zygomatic muscles, the other being the zygomaticus minor. The main action of the zygomaticus major is to elevate the angle of the mouth in the upward and lateral directions, creating facial expressions of pleasure or laughter. Contractions of this muscle produce smiles, and it is also associated with the formation of cheek dimples in some individuals.
The zygomaticus major muscle may occur in a bifid form, with two fascicles that are partially or completely separate from each other but adjacent. This variant is associated with cheek dimples and is also thought to be useful in reconstructive surgery to replace lost tissue, such as with injuries to the lips. The muscle increases in size and thickness in males and in patients with increasing BMIs.
The zygomaticus major muscle is a member of the buccolabial muscle group of the upper lip, a subset of the facial muscles. It joins with the muscle fibres of levator anguli oris, orbicularis oris and the more deeply placed muscular bands to move the side of the mouth upwards and sideways during facial movements such as laughing.
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