Logan Steele
The human face has about 20 main facial muscles, which are essential for chewing and making facial expressions. These muscles are located just under the skin, originating from the skull bone and inserting on the skin of the face. When they contract, the skin moves, allowing us to make expressions such as smiling, frowning, or raising our eyebrows in surprise. These muscles are supplied by the facial nerve (cranial nerve VII), with each nerve serving one side of the face. The facial muscles can be categorized into two main groups: the facial expression (or mimetic) muscles and the mastication (or chewing) muscles.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of facial muscles | 20 main facial muscles, 30 muscles on each side of the face |
| Functions | Chewing, making facial expressions, smiling, talking, frowning, raising eyebrows, opening and closing eyelids |
| Types | Muscles of facial expression (mimetic muscles), mastication muscles |
| Muscle names | Lateral pterygoid, procerus, corrugator supercilii, zygomatic muscles, risorius, orbicularis oris, depressor anguli oris, levator labii superioris, mentalis, platysma, orbicularis oculi, corrugator, frontalis, occipitalis, epicranius, galea aponeurotica, temporal fascia, auricularis superior, auricularis anterior, auricularis posterior, sternocleidomastoid, trapezius |
| Innervation | Facial nerve (cranial nerve VII) |
| Blood supply | Facial artery |
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What You'll Learn
Facial muscles control facial expressions
The human face has about 20 main facial muscles, which are essential for chewing and making facial expressions. These muscles are just under the skin (subcutaneous) and control facial expressions. They generally originate from the surface of the skull bone and insert on the skin of the face. When they contract, the skin moves, and these muscles also cause wrinkles at right angles to the muscles' action line.
Facial muscles are located throughout the face, including the ears, mouth, forehead, nose, and eyes. They are positioned around facial openings and stretch across the skull and neck. These muscles are typically paired, meaning there is one on the left side of the face and one on the right side.
The facial nerve (cranial nerve VII) innervates the facial expression muscles, while the trigeminal nerve's mandibular division innervates the muscles of mastication. The facial muscles, or mimetic muscles, are the only muscles that attach to the dermis.
Some examples of facial muscles and their functions include:
- Procerus: This muscle pulls the eyebrows downward and helps flare the nostrils.
- Corrugator supercilii: This muscle is near the eyebrow and enables frowning.
- Zygomatic muscles (major and minor): These muscles move the mouth corners up and outward when smiling.
- Risorius: The "smile" muscle pulls the mouth corners outward and forms dimples in the cheeks.
- Orbicularis oris: This circular muscle of the mouth puckers the lips and brings the mouth corners towards the middle line.
- Depressor anguli oris: This muscle pulls the mouth corners downward, contributing to expressions of sadness or anger.
- Levator labii superioris: This muscle assists in elevating and everting the upper lip, exposing the maxillary teeth and deepening nasolabial lines, which is significant in expressions such as smiling and grinning.
- Mentalis: The chin muscle pulls up the chin when expressing disappointment, doubt, and other negative emotions.
Damage to the facial nerve can result in facial paralysis, impacting the ability to form facial expressions. Conditions such as Bell's palsy can cause facial nerve damage and affect the symmetry and range of facial expressions.
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They enable us to chew
The human face has about 20 main facial muscles, which are essential for chewing food and enabling us to eat. These muscles, also known as craniofacial muscles, are a group of flat skeletal muscles lying just under the skin of the face and scalp. They are attached to the dermis and are generally anchored to the skull bone.
The facial muscles involved in chewing are known as the muscles of mastication. These include the lateral pterygoid, a fan-shaped muscle that helps the jaw to open. The deeper muscles of mastication are the temporalis, masseter, and pterygoid muscles. These muscles are drained by veins leading to the pterygoid plexus, which empties into the retromandibular vein and cavernous sinus.
The depressor anguli oris muscle assists in opening the mouth during eating. It is a triangular muscle situated on each side of the face, which acts to depress the angle of the mouth. The zygomaticus major is a thin muscle that arises from the zygomatic bone and extends diagonally to the angle of the mouth. The levator labii superioris assists in elevating and everting the upper lip, exposing the maxillary teeth.
The risorius muscle pulls the mouth corners outward and forms dimples in the cheeks. The orbicularis oris is the circular muscle of the mouth, which puckers the lips and brings the mouth corners towards the middle.
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They help us to talk
The human face has about 20 main facial muscles, which are essential for chewing, making facial expressions, and talking. These muscles are part of the musculoskeletal system and contain elastic fibres that allow them to contract.
Facial muscles are controlled by the brain, which sends signals via the facial nerve. When these muscles contract, the skin moves, enabling us to make various facial expressions. These expressions are a form of non-verbal communication, conveying emotions and thoughts to others.
The depressor anguli oris muscle, for example, pulls the corners of the mouth downward, contributing to expressions of sadness or anger. Interestingly, this muscle also assists in opening the mouth during speaking or eating. The zygomaticus major, a thin muscle that extends to the angle of the mouth, is responsible for smiling. The levator labii superioris elevates and everts the upper lip, exposing the maxillary teeth and contributing to expressions of smiling, grinning, and even contempt.
The orbicularis oris, or circular muscle of the mouth, puckers the lips and brings the mouth corners towards the middle line. The risorius, or "smile" muscle, pulls the mouth corners outward and forms dimples in the cheeks. This muscle is not always active in all people, demonstrating the unique variations in facial musculature.
In summary, facial muscles are instrumental in producing the physical movements necessary for speech and expression. They contract and relax with precision, delivering our message to the world and enabling us to communicate effectively beyond just the words we speak.
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They are responsible for smiling
The human face has about 20 main facial muscles, which are essential for chewing and making facial expressions, including smiling. These muscles are located just under the skin (subcutaneous) and 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 we are able to make expressions.
The facial muscles are also called mimetic muscles and are only found in mammals. They are derived from neural crest cells, which are found in all vertebrates. The facial nerve (cranial nerve VII) supplies these muscles, with each nerve serving one side of the face.
Several facial muscles work together to produce a smile. The zygomaticus major and minor are thin muscles that arise from the lateral surface of the zygomatic bone and extend diagonally to the angle of the mouth, moving the mouth corners up and outward when we smile. The risorius, or the "smile" muscle, pulls the mouth corners outward and forms dimples in the cheeks. However, this muscle is not always active in all people.
The levator labii superioris is a short triangular muscle that assists in elevating and everting the upper lip, deepening the nasolabial lines, and helping to form a smile. The orbicularis oris is another muscle that contributes to smiling by puckering the lips and bringing the mouth corners towards the middle.
Facial expressions are a powerful form of communication, and the ability to smile is an important aspect of human interaction and expression.
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They cause wrinkles
The human face has about 20 main facial muscles, with some sources citing 30 muscles on each side of the face, and others stating there are 43 separate muscles. These muscles are responsible for two major tasks: chewing and making facial expressions. They are the only muscles that attach directly to the skin. When they contract, the skin moves, and over time, lines and creases start to form. These are called dynamic facial wrinkles.
Facial muscles are also categorised as facial expression (mimetic) muscles and mastication muscles. The former outnumber the latter. The corrugator supercilii muscle, for example, depresses the eyebrows and causes vertical glabellar rhytides, or "frown lines". The orbicularis oculi sphincter muscles close the eyes, depress the brows, and produce "crow's feet" wrinkles at the eyes' corners. The mentalis muscle pulls the tail of the mouth down and inward, while the DAO muscle pulls the corner of the mouth in a downward direction perpendicular to the mandibular border.
Excessive muscle activity is known to contribute to wrinkling and sagging of the facial skin. People with noticeable "crow's feet" are usually squinters and smilers, while those who smoke or frown more than usual will inevitably experience deep wrinkling around the mouth. Botox injections can be used to treat dynamic wrinkles by relaxing the underlying facial muscles in key locations, thereby halting the process that makes wrinkles form.
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Frequently asked questions
Your facial muscles are responsible for two major tasks: chewing and making facial expressions.
There are about 20 flat skeletal muscles lying underneath the skin of your face and scalp.
Facial muscles are also called craniofacial muscles or mimetic muscles.
The facial muscles are located throughout your face, including your ears, mouth, forehead, nose, and eyes. They run underneath your skin from your scalp down to your neck.
Some examples of facial muscles include the procerus (between your eyebrows), the orbicularis oculi (in the orbital group), and the buccinator (in the buccolabial group).
