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The human face has about 20 facial muscles that are essential for chewing and making facial expressions. These muscles are located anywhere behind the skin of your face, from your scalp to your forehead, down to the skin on your neck. They are the only group of muscles that attach to the dermis. The cheek muscle, also known as the buccinator, is a thin, square-shaped muscle located in and around the mouth. It holds the cheek towards the teeth and prevents the accumulation of food in that area.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of facial muscles | 20 |
| Function | Chewing, making facial expressions, elevating the upper lip, etc. |
| Location | Behind the skin of the face, from the scalp above the forehead to the neck |
| Type | Flat skeletal muscles, also called craniofacial muscles |
| Origin | Bone or fascia |
| Insertion | Skin |
| Nerve | Facial nerve (cranial nerve VII) |
| Muscle complexes | Orbicularis oculi, orbicularis oris |
| Muscle groups | Orbital, oral, nasal, auricular, occipitofrontalis or scalp, neck |
| Individual muscles | Orbicularis oculi, orbicularis oris, buccinator, depressor anguli oris, levator anguli oris, zygomaticus major, zygomaticus minor, levator labii superioris, levator labii superioris alaeque nasi, risorius, depressor labii inferioris, mentalis, corrugator supercilii, procerus, frontalis, occipitalis, platysma, temporalis, masseter, medial ptyergoid, lateral pterygoid |
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What You'll Learn
- The buccinator muscle is thin and square-shaped, located between the mandible and maxilla
- The orbicularis oris is the main sphincter muscle of the lips
- The risorius muscle originates from the fascia overlying the masseter
- The levator labii superioris helps you smile or show disgust
- The occipitofrontalis muscle extends from the eyebrow to the top of the skull
The buccinator muscle is thin and square-shaped, located between the mandible and maxilla
The human face has about 20 main facial muscles that are essential to chewing and making facial expressions. These muscles are located anywhere behind the skin of your face, from your scalp above your forehead down to the skin on your neck. They originate from bone or fascia and insert into the skin.
One such muscle is the buccinator muscle, which is thin and square-shaped. It is located between the mandible and maxilla, deep to the other muscles of the face. The muscle fibres run in an inferomedial direction, blending with the orbicularis oris muscle and the skin of the lips.
The buccinator muscle is one of the three muscles that are innervated at their superficial surfaces, along with the levator anguli oris and mentalis. It is also one of the muscles of facial expression, which are located in the subcutaneous tissue. These muscles originate from bone or fascia and insert into the skin, pulling on the skin and exerting their effects when they contract.
The buccinator muscle is a type of buccolabial muscle, which are found in and around the mouth. It is the main muscle of the cheeks and plays an important role in preventing the accumulation of food in the area between the teeth and cheeks. This is achieved through its action of pulling the cheek inwards against the teeth.
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The orbicularis oris is the main sphincter muscle of the lips
The human face has about 20 facial muscles, which are essential for chewing and making facial expressions. One of these muscles is the orbicularis oris, a complex circular muscle that surrounds the mouth and forms the majority of the lips. It is the main sphincter muscle of the lips, and it arises from the maxilla and other cheek muscles. The orbicularis oris inserts into the skin and mucous membrane of the lips.
The orbicularis oris is responsible for closing the lips to narrow the oral opening, and it works in cooperation with the buccinator muscle and the tongue to prevent food from escaping the mouth during eating. This muscle is not a simple sphincter, as it was once thought, but is composed of four independent quadrants that interlace and give the appearance of circularity. It is also one of the muscles used in playing brass and some woodwind instruments.
The orbicularis oris is a composite muscle that consists of two parts: a larger peripheral part and a smaller marginal part. The peripheral portion, also called the extrinsic portion, originates from the modiolus, arising from the fibres of the buccolabial muscles that attach to it. The marginal portion, or intrinsic portion, consists of a single or double band of muscle fibres that stem from the modiolus toward the midline, passing through the connective tissue of the lips.
The orbicularis oris is part of a larger group of muscles called the buccolabial group, which also includes the levator anguli oris, levator labii superioris alaeque nasi, levator labii superioris, zygomaticus major, zygomaticus minor, risorius, depressor labii inferioris, depressor anguli oris, mentalis, incisivus superior and inferior, and buccinator muscles. The function of the orbicularis oris is to control the shape and movements of the lips, including closing, protruding, and compressing them. These movements facilitate speech and help produce various facial expressions, such as anger and sadness.
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The risorius muscle originates from the fascia overlying the masseter
The human face has about 20 facial muscles, which are essential for chewing and making facial expressions. These muscles are located in the subcutaneous tissue, originating from bone or fascia and inserting into the skin. Facial muscles are flat skeletal muscles that attach to different places on the skull.
The risorius muscle is one of the muscles of the mouth, a subset of the facial muscles. It is often described as an accessory muscle and is sometimes absent. The risorius muscle arises from the superficial fascia as a bundle of muscle fibres that pass anteriorly to insert into the angle of the mouth. The bundle is widest at its origin, narrowing towards its insertion. The risorius muscle originates from the fascia overlying the masseter, as well as the fascia enveloping the platysma muscle and the fascia over the mastoid process.
The risorius muscle has a variable form, ranging from a fleshy slender fascicle to a broad thin superficial fan. It has several origin points, which are sometimes inconsistent. These origin points include the zygomatic arch, parotid fascia, and the fascia over the masseter anterior to the parotid gland. From these origin points, the muscle fibres of the risorius converge medially, taking an almost horizontal course towards the angle of the mouth.
The risorius muscle is supplied by the superior labial artery, which is given off by the facial artery. The risorius contracts in an outward and upward motion, pulling the angle of the mouth laterally. This action aids in producing facial expressions, such as smiling, smirking, grinning, and frowning, either on its own or in conjunction with other facial muscles. The risorius then interlaces with other muscles that converge towards the angle of the mouth, forming a dense, mobile, fibromuscular mass called the modiolus.
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The levator labii superioris helps you smile or show disgust
The human face has about 20 facial muscles, which are essential for chewing and making facial expressions. These muscles work together to control the parts of our face, allowing us to make expressions. One of these muscles is the levator labii superioris, which plays a crucial role in helping us smile or show disgust.
The levator labii superioris is a short, paired triangular muscle of the face. It is part of the buccolabial group of muscles, which control the shape, posture, and movements of the lips. This muscle originates from the zygomatic process of the maxilla and the maxillary process of the zygomatic bone, just above the infraorbital foramen. It gradually tapers and becomes triangular as it courses towards the upper lip.
The levator labii superioris helps to elevate the upper lip, exposing the maxillary teeth. This action is essential for smiling and creating facial expressions of disdain or contempt. It works in conjunction with other muscles, such as the zygomaticus minor and levator labii superioris alaeque nasi, to directly lift the upper lip. By contracting, the levator labii superioris assists in elevating and inverting the upper lip, deepening the nasolabial lines, and contributing to the shape and movement of the lips.
Additionally, the levator labii superioris is involved in nasal flaring, retching, and oral movements. It is innervated by the zygomatic and buccal branches of the facial nerve (CN VII) and receives its vascular supply from the facial artery and the infraorbital branch of the maxillary artery. The levator labii superioris also has an important role in facial expressions, including expressions of disgust, sadness, and disdain.
In summary, the levator labii superioris is a facial muscle that contributes to our ability to smile and express emotions like disdain or contempt. It works in harmony with other muscles to control the shape and movement of our lips, allowing us to convey a range of facial expressions and perform essential oral functions.
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The occipitofrontalis muscle extends from the eyebrow to the top of the skull
The human face has about 20 main facial muscles, which are essential for chewing and making facial expressions. These muscles are located in the subcutaneous tissue, originating from bone or fascia and inserting into the skin. They are the only group of muscles that insert into the skin.
The occipitofrontalis muscle is one such muscle, extending from the eyebrow to the top of the skull. It is part of the occipitofrontalis, or scalp, group, which also includes the frontalis and occipitalis muscles. These muscles are innervated by the temporal and posterior auricular branches of the facial nerve. They provide movement to the eyebrows, forehead, and scalp.
The facial muscles lie superficial to the facial nerve and are innervated at their deep surfaces by branches of the facial nerve. There are three muscles that are innervated at their superficial surfaces: the buccinator, levator anguli oris, and mentalis. The buccinator is a thin, square-shaped muscle located between the mandible and maxilla, deep to the other muscles of the face. It pulls the cheek inwards against the teeth, preventing the accumulation of food in that area.
The orbicularis oculi muscle is another important muscle surrounding the eye socket and extending into the eyelid. It has three distinct parts: palpebral, lacrimal, and orbital. The palpebral part gently closes the eyelids, while the lacrimal part is involved in draining tears. The orbital part tightly closes the eyelids.
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Frequently asked questions
The cheek muscles are part of the 20 main facial muscles that control facial expressions and chewing. They include the buccinator, orbicularis oculi, and orbicularis oris muscles.
The buccinator muscle is a thin, square-shaped muscle located deep within the face, between the mandible and maxilla. It pulls the cheek inwards against the teeth, preventing food from accumulating in the area.
The orbicularis oculi muscle surrounds the eye socket and extends into the eyelid. It has three parts: palpebral, lacrimal, and orbital. The palpebral part closes the eyelids, the lacrimal part is involved in draining tears, and the orbital part tightly closes the eyelids.
