Athena Vale
The human face is composed of about 20 facial muscles, which are essential for chewing and making facial expressions. Facial exercises, or facial yoga, can help strengthen these muscles, improving skin texture and reducing the appearance of wrinkles and thick scars. Additionally, facial muscle manipulation and exercises can produce positive emotions and buffer the effects of stress. To learn about the facial muscles and their functions, one can start by understanding the four layers of muscles of facial expression, based on the level of depth and muscle origin. The first layer, the most superficial, includes the orbicularis oculi, while the deepest layer contains the mentalis, a muscle involved in facial expressions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of facial muscles | 20 main facial muscles |
| Functions | Chewing, making facial expressions, sound production, and food consumption |
| Location | Behind the skin of the face, from the scalp above the forehead to the neck, including the ears, mouth, forehead, nose, and eyes |
| Facial expression muscles | Divided into four groups based on depth and muscle origin |
| Facial yoga | A form of exercise to strengthen and tone facial muscles, possibly reducing wrinkles and improving skin texture |
| Eye exercises | Place fingers at corners of eyes and eyebrows, apply pressure upward, look up, hold for 10 seconds, repeat 6 times |
| Lower face exercises | Make an "O" with the mouth, smile widely without showing teeth, repeat 6 times |
| Forehead exercises | Place hands on forehead, spread fingers, pull fingers outward across the forehead, repeat 10 times |
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What You'll Learn
Facial muscle groups
The human face has about 20 main facial muscles, which are essential for chewing and making facial expressions. These muscles are located throughout the face, including the ears, mouth, forehead, nose, and eyes. They run underneath the skin from the scalp down to the neck and are typically paired, with one on the left side of the face and one on the right.
Facial muscles can be broadly categorized into three groups: orbital, nasal, and oral. The orbital group contains two muscles associated with the eye socket, which control the movements of the eyelids. The nasal group is associated with movements of the nose and the surrounding skin. The oral group is responsible for the movements of the mouth and lips, including singing, whistling, and adding emphasis to vocal communication.
The oral group can be further divided into the upper and lower groups. The upper group contains the risorius, zygomaticus major, zygomaticus minor, levator labii superioris, levator labii superioris alaeque nasi, and levator anguli oris. The lower group contains the depressor anguli oris, depressor labii inferioris, and mentalis.
The buccolabial group of muscles, which includes the buccinator, mentalis, and levator anguli oris, forms a functional compound that controls the shape and movements of the mouth and lips. The auricular muscles around the ears have little functional significance.
Facial exercises, or facial yoga, can help strengthen the facial muscles, making the skin look younger and fresher. Examples of such exercises include pulling the corners of the mouth upwards, performing eye squeezes, and applying pressure to the outer corners of the eyes while looking upwards.
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Facial exercises
To exercise the muscles around your eyes, place your index fingers on the outer corners of your eyes and your middle fingers at the inner corners of your eyebrows. Then, apply pressure upward and look up toward the ceiling. Hold for 10 seconds, release, and repeat 6 more times.
To exercise your lower face muscles, make an “O” shape with your mouth and hide your teeth with your lips. Now, smile widely while still hiding your teeth. Relax and repeat this 6 times.
To exercise your forehead muscles, place both of your hands on your forehead with your fingers spread out between your hairline and eyebrows. Then, pull your fingers out across your forehead in opposite directions. Repeat this 10 more times.
Do an eye squeeze to prevent crow’s feet. Pull your lips downward so that your facial muscles tighten, then pull your lips to one side. Squeeze one eye shut for one second, then repeat 10 times, holding your lips to the side. Then, do the other eye. Do 3 sets of 10 for each eye, take a short rest, then do another 3 sets of 10.
For your jawline, try neck curl-ups, which can strengthen the muscles in your jaw. The front neck muscles are often underdeveloped, so exercises targeting this area can also help prevent neck pain, headaches, and jaw pain.
> Note that there is limited scientific evidence to support the effectiveness of facial exercises. Fitness celebrities have long endorsed facial workouts, but experts remain sceptical. Some sources suggest that facial exercises may be effective for reducing the appearance of thick scars.
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Functions of facial muscles
The human face has about 20 main facial muscles, which are essential for chewing and making facial expressions. These muscles are part of the skeletal system (musculoskeletal system) and contain elastic fibres that allow them to contract. Facial muscles are located throughout the face, including the ears, mouth, forehead, nose, and eyes. They run underneath the skin, from the scalp down to the neck, and are typically paired, with one muscle on each side of the face.
The primary function of these muscles is to provide voluntary and involuntary movements of facial skin folds, enabling different facial expressions. They act as sphincters, participating in the closing and widening of the main orifices of the face. For example, the muscles around the mouth are involved in sound production and food consumption, while the muscles around the eyes have a protective function for the structures within the eye socket.
Facial muscles can be classified in various ways, depending on their location and depth. One classification divides the muscles of facial expression into five major groups:
- Epicranial muscles: These muscles cover the upper parts of the skull and include the occipitofrontalis and temporo-parietalis muscles. The occipitofrontalis moves the scalp and forehead backward and forward, lifts the eyebrows, and forms horizontal folds in the forehead skin. The temporo-parietalis raises the ear and temple.
- Auricular muscles: These are the ear muscles, which have limited functional significance. They can be subdivided into intrinsic (muscles of the auricle) and extrinsic (around the ear). The auricularis anterior draws the auricle upward and forward, while the auricularis posterior draws it backward.
- Buccolabial muscles: These muscles are in and around the mouth and include the buccinator, depressor anguli oris, depressor labii inferioris, levator anguli oris, levator labii superioris, levator labii superioris alaeque nasi, and mentalis. They control movements of the mouth and lips, such as smiling, frowning, and pouting.
- Eyelid muscles: These muscles, such as the orbicularis oculi, are easy to work with and don't require much resistance. They can be exercised by doing eye squeezes and using your fingers to stretch the eyelids, reducing wrinkles and strengthening the eyelids.
- Forehead muscles: These muscles, including the zygomaticus minor, can be exercised by placing your hands on your forehead and pulling your fingers in opposite directions.
Additionally, the muscles involved in chewing (muscles of mastication) include the lateral pterygoid, masseter, medial pterygoid, and temporalis. These muscles help open and close the jaw during chewing.
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Facial attractiveness
The human face has about 20 main facial muscles, which are essential for chewing and making facial expressions. These muscles are typically paired, with one on the left side of the face and one on the right. Facial muscles can be categorised in various ways, including by their depth and muscle origin, or by their location on the face. The muscles involved in chewing are the lateral pterygoid, masseter, medial pterygoid, and temporalis. The muscles that control facial expressions can be divided into groups based on their location, such as the auricular muscles around the ears, the buccolabial muscles around the mouth, and the epicranial muscles covering the upper parts of the skull.
The specific features that make a face attractive can be challenging to articulate. However, several traits have been proposed to influence attractiveness, such as symmetry, averageness, and secondary sexual characteristics. Additionally, facial attractiveness can be associated with certain benefits, such as direct gains for the perceiver or their offspring, and indirect genetic benefits for their offspring. For example, avoiding a mate with parasites has direct advantages and can lead to better health outcomes and parenting abilities.
In terms of male facial attractiveness, studies have found that women prefer men with higher muscle mass for short-term relationships, while facial cues to fat mass are not a differentiating factor. This preference for higher muscle mass in short-term relationships may be due to the good genes hypothesis, which suggests that women seek indicators of heritable immunity and health when choosing short-term partners. However, higher muscularity may be avoided in long-term relationships due to potential negative characteristics associated with it. Additionally, facial cues to physical strength in men have been found to increase their attractiveness while decreasing aggressiveness assessments.
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Facial muscle layers
The human face has about 20 facial muscles, also called craniofacial muscles, that lie underneath the skin of the face and scalp. Facial muscles can be classified in various ways, including by location and function. Facial muscles can also be divided into layers, with four layers commonly recognised.
The first layer, the most superficial, includes the orbicularis oculi, depressor anguli oris, and the superficial part of the zygomaticus minor. The orbicularis oculi is a muscle that surrounds the eye, while the depressor anguli oris is on the side of the chin and works with other muscles to produce a frown. The zygomaticus minor is involved in smiling, lifting the angle of the mouth upward and to the side.
The second layer, beneath the first, contains the platysma, risorius, zygomaticus major, deep part of the zygomaticus minor, and levator labii superioris alaeque nasi. The risorius muscle is involved in smiling, while the levator labii superioris alaeque nasi is involved in elevating and everting the upper lip.
The third layer consists of the levator labii superioris and orbicularis oris. The levator labii superioris is involved in elevating the upper lip, while the orbicularis oris is a circular composite muscle that surrounds the mouth and forms the majority of the lips.
The fourth and deepest layer contains the mentalis, buccinator, and levator anguli oris. The buccinator forms the muscular basis of the cheek, while the mentalis and levator anguli oris are involved in depressing and everting the lower lip.
Facial exercises, or facial yoga, can help strengthen the muscles in the various layers of the face, leading to potential benefits such as skin that looks younger and fresher. Examples of facial exercises include eye squeezes, pulling your lips downward and to the side, and applying pressure with your fingers to the outer corners of your eyes while looking up toward the ceiling.
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