
It takes more muscles to frown than it does to smile. While the exact number of muscles used to frown is debated, with estimates ranging from 20 to 65, it is generally agreed that frowning uses more muscles than smiling.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of muscles used to frown | 20, 37, 43, 47, 65 |
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What You'll Learn
- It takes 43 muscles to frown, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
- It takes 65 muscles to frown, according to Sonny Smith, Auburn's basketball coach
- It takes 37 muscles to frown, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
- It takes 20 muscles to frown, according to the Denver Post
- It takes 47 muscles to frown, according to a source from Michigan State University

It takes 43 muscles to frown, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article also states that it takes 317 muscles to appear amused when a male Celine Dion imitator sings a song about flatulence.
The smile is transmitted either consciously or subconsciously and is viewed across cultures as a sign of friendliness, especially when greeting someone. Frowns, too, are generally recognised as indicating sadness or disapproval.
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It takes 65 muscles to frown, according to Sonny Smith, Auburn's basketball coach
Sonny Smith, Auburn's basketball coach, once said that it takes 65 muscles to frown. This is a popular saying, although the exact number of muscles varies from source to source. Some sources say it takes 43 muscles to frown, while others say 37 or 47. However, it is generally agreed that it takes more muscles to frown than it does to smile.
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It takes 37 muscles to frown, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
It takes 37 muscles to frown, according to the *St. Louis Post-Dispatch*. However, other sources give different figures, ranging from 20 to 65. The number of muscles required to frown is said to be greater than the number needed to smile, which is thought to take between 4 and 22 muscles.
The face has 43 muscles, most of which are controlled by the seventh cranial nerve, also known as the facial nerve. This nerve exits the cerebral cortex and emerges from the skull just in front of the ears. It then splits into five primary branches: temporal, zygomatic, buccal, mandibular and cervical. These branches reach different areas of the face and allow the facial muscles to twist and contort into a variety of expressions.
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It takes 20 muscles to frown, according to the Denver Post
The number of muscles it takes to frown is a popular topic of discussion, with many sources claiming that it takes more muscles to frown than to smile. This is said to be the reason why we should smile more, as it conserves energy.
The smile is transmitted either consciously or subconsciously and is viewed across cultures as a sign of friendliness, especially when greeting someone. Frowns, on the other hand, are generally recognised as indicating sadness or disapproval.
The face has 43 muscles, most of which are controlled by the seventh cranial nerve (also known as the facial nerve). This nerve exits the cerebral cortex and emerges from the skull just in front of the ears. It then splits into five primary branches: temporal, zygomatic, buccal, mandibular and cervical. These branches reach different areas of the face and enervate muscles that allow the face to twist and contort into a variety of expressions.
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It takes 47 muscles to frown, according to a source from Michigan State University
The facial nerve, also known as the seventh cranial nerve, controls most of the 43 muscles in the face. This nerve exits the cerebral cortex and emerges from the skull just in front of the ears, splitting into five primary branches: temporal, zygomatic, buccal, mandibular, and cervical. These branches reach different areas of the face and enable the muscles to twist and contort into various expressions, including frowns and smiles.
Smiling is viewed as a sign of friendliness in most cultures, and it is said to take fewer muscles to smile than to frown. While the exact number of muscles used to smile varies across sources, with estimates ranging from four to 22, it is clear that smiling requires less muscle activity than frowning.
So, the next time you're feeling down, remember that it takes fewer muscles to smile than to frown!
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Frequently asked questions
It takes 43 muscles to frown.
It takes 17 muscles to smile.
Yes, it takes more muscles to frown than to smile.
Smiling is viewed as a sign of friendliness and it takes less energy than frowning.
The facial muscles are controlled by the seventh cranial nerve (also known as the facial nerve).











































