Logan Steele
The human face has about 20 main facial muscles, which are essential for chewing and making facial expressions. These muscles are unique because they originate from bones and insert into the skin, manipulating the skin and soft tissues. Facial muscles have a higher fast-twitch fibre concentration and fewer mitochondria than other muscles. The muscles of the mouth, or buccolabial group of muscles, form a functional compound that controls the shape and movements of the mouth and lips. These muscles include the orbicularis oris, which closes the mouth, and the buccinator, which forms the muscular basis of the cheek. The facial muscles can be further divided into groups based on their location, such as the auricular muscles around the ears and the buccolabial muscles in and around the mouth.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of muscles | 20 main facial muscles, with 30 muscles on each side of the face |
| Muscle groups | Orbital, Nasal, Oral, Auricular, Buccolabial |
| Muscle function | Control facial expressions, chewing, smiling, frowning, raising eyebrows, closing eyes, opening nostrils, moving lips, etc. |
| Muscle structure | Flat skeletal muscles, originating from bone or fascia, inserting into the skin |
| Innervation | Facial nerve (CN VII), Trigeminal nerve (CN V3) |
| Blood supply | External and internal carotid arteries |
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What You'll Learn
- The procerus muscle is the most superior of the nasal muscles, producing frown lines
- The buccinator muscle forms the cheek, filling the space between the maxilla and mandible
- The orbicularis oculi is the fastest-moving muscle in the human body, controlling eye closure
- The buccolabial muscles are in and around the mouth, controlling movements of the lips
- The zygomaticus major muscle elevates the upper lip and enables smiling
The procerus muscle is the most superior of the nasal muscles, producing frown lines
The human face is capable of a wide range of expressions, from smiles to frowns, and this is made possible by the various muscles located around the facial openings. These muscles, also called craniofacial muscles, are a group of about 20 flat skeletal muscles lying underneath the skin of the face and scalp.
The procerus muscle is a small, pyramid-shaped muscle in the glabella, and it is the most superior of the nasal muscles. It originates from the nasal bone and inserts onto the skin of the lower medial forehead, between the eyebrows. When the procerus muscle contracts, it pulls the eyebrows downward, producing transverse wrinkles over the nose, which we associate with frowning.
The procerus muscle is part of the glabellar complex, which also includes the bilateral fibres of the frontalis, corrugator supercilii, depressor supercilii, and orbicularis oculi muscles. These muscles work together to depress the medial eyebrow, producing cutaneous furrows, and also assist in nostril flaring.
The procerus muscle is of particular interest in cosmetic and surgical procedures. As it contributes to wrinkle formation on the nasal bridge, it is often targeted in non-surgical facial rejuvenation treatments, such as botulinum toxin (Botox) injections. Botulinum toxin is a protein that inhibits muscle contraction, thereby preventing wrinkles.
In summary, the procerus muscle, through its ability to produce frown lines, plays a significant role in human facial expressions and is also a key area of focus in cosmetic procedures aimed at reducing wrinkles.
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The buccinator muscle forms the cheek, filling the space between the maxilla and mandible
The buccinator muscle is a thin, quadrilateral-shaped muscle that forms the cheek. It fills the space between the maxilla (upper jaw) and the mandible (lower jaw). It is composed of three parts: superior, inferior, and posterior. The superior part originates from the alveolar process of the maxilla, opposite the three maxillary molar teeth. The inferior part originates from the buccinator ridge of the mandible, opposite the three mandibular molar teeth.
The buccinator muscle is the main component of the cheek, providing it with structure and tightness. It compresses the cheek against the molar teeth, preventing food from accumulating in the area between the teeth and cheeks. This muscle is also essential for playing wind instruments, as it is responsible for expelling air from the distended cheeks.
The buccinator is part of the group of muscles known as the buccolabial group or oral muscles, which control the shape and movements of the mouth and lips. These muscles include the levator labii superioris, zygomaticus major, orbicularis oris, and others. The buccolabial group is one of several groups of facial muscles, including the orbital and nasal groups, that enable a wide range of facial expressions such as smiling, grinning, and frowning.
The facial muscles, also called craniofacial muscles, comprise around 20 flat skeletal muscles lying beneath the skin of the face and scalp. Most of these muscles originate from the bones or fibrous structures of the skull and insert onto the skin. The buccinator muscle is unique among the facial muscles in that it is surrounded by a fascia, known as the buccopharyngeal fascia.
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The orbicularis oculi is the fastest-moving muscle in the human body, controlling eye closure
The human face is capable of a wide range of expressions, from smiles to frowns, and this is all down to the muscles of facial expression. 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.
One of the most important muscles for facial expression is the orbicularis oculi, which is the fastest-moving muscle in the human body. This muscle is responsible for closing the eyelids and is, therefore, essential for protecting the eyes. It is a sphincter-like muscle that arises from the nasal part of the frontal bone and surrounds the circumference of the orbit, or eye socket. The orbital and palpebral portions of the muscle can work independently of each other, allowing for a range of movements. For example, the orbital portion can contract to furrow the brows while the palpebral portion remains relaxed, keeping the eyes open.
The palpebral portion of the orbicularis oculi is thin and pale, originating from the medial palpebral ligament and inserting into the lateral palpebral raphe at the outer corner of the eye. The pretarsal orbicularis is thought to be responsible for the spontaneous blink. The lacrimal part of the palpebral portion is a small, thin muscle that sits behind the medial palpebral ligament and lacrimal sac. It facilitates the tear pump mechanism, drawing tears along the lacrimal canals and into the lacrimal sac.
The orbital portion of the orbicularis oculi is thicker and reddish in colour. Its fibres form a complete ellipse without interruption, with the upper fibres blending with the frontalis and corrugator muscles. The orbital portion overlays the orbital rim and originates from the nasal part of the frontal bone, frontal process of the maxilla, and medial palpebral ligament. The fibres extend into the soft tissues of adjacent regions, attaching to various structures of the periorbital region.
The orbicularis oculi is innervated by the zygomatic and temporal branches of the facial nerve (cranial nerve VII) and receives arterial blood from three branches of the external carotid artery: the maxillary, superficial temporal, and facial arteries.
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The buccolabial muscles are in and around the mouth, controlling movements of the lips
The buccolabial muscles are a subgroup of the facial muscles that control the shape and movements of the mouth and lips. There are 11 of these muscles, and they are located in and around the mouth. The word "buccolabial" comes from the Latin roots "bucca", meaning cheek, and "labial", meaning the lips of the mouth.
The buccolabial muscles consist of a sphincter muscle (orbicularis oris), the buccinators, and a set of muscles that elevate, depress, and retract the upper and lower lips and corners of the mouth. The orbicularis oris muscle closes the lips and produces movements of the lips, such as lip pouting, puckering, and twisting. It also facilitates speech and helps produce various facial expressions. The buccinator muscle forms the muscular basis of the cheek and compresses the cheek.
The levator labii superioris is a short triangular muscle that assists other buccolabial muscles in elevating and everting the upper lip, exposing the maxillary teeth and deepening the nasolabial lines. This action is significant in making certain facial expressions, such as smiling, grinning, and contempt. The risorius is a highly variable and inconsistent muscle of the buccolabial group that pulls the angles of the mouth laterally and superiorly to produce a smile. The levator anguli oris is a slender, sheet-like muscle that arises from the canine fossa of the maxilla and attaches to the modiolus.
The buccolabial muscles are connected by a fibromuscular hub onto which their fibres insert, called the modiolus. It is located at the angles of the mouth and is primarily formed by the buccinator, orbicularis oris, risorius, depressor anguli oris, and zygomaticus major muscles. The majority of the mouth muscles are connected in this way.
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The zygomaticus major muscle elevates the upper lip and enables smiling
The human face is capable of a wide range of expressions, from smiles to frowns. These expressions are made possible by the contraction of the facial muscles, which pull on the skin and exert their effects. One such muscle is the zygomaticus major, which plays a key role in elevating the upper lip and enabling smiling.
The zygomaticus major muscle is a thin, paired facial muscle that extends diagonally from the zygomatic bone (also known as the cheekbone) to the angle of the mouth. It is part of a group of muscles called the buccolabial group, which also includes the levator labii superioris, zygomaticus minor, levator anguli oris, and other muscles that control the shape and movements of the mouth and lips.
The main action of the zygomaticus major muscle is to pull the angle of the mouth upward and backward, resulting in an upward turning of the lips. This movement is essential for smiling and laughing. In coordination with other buccolabial muscles, the zygomaticus major also contributes to speech and the creation of various facial expressions.
The zygomaticus major muscle is innervated by branches of the facial nerve (cranial nerve VII), specifically the zygomatic and buccal branches. This muscle receives motor innervation from these nerve branches, allowing for precise control of facial expressions.
The zygomaticus major muscle is not just important for smiling and laughter, but also plays a role in the overall structure and function of the cheeks, lips, and chin. Its attachment to the modiolus, a fibromuscular hub at the angles of the mouth, coordinates its actions with those of other muscles in the buccolabial group. This integration allows for a wide range of facial expressions and speech capabilities.
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Frequently asked questions
The muscles of facial expression are a group of about 20 flat skeletal muscles lying underneath the skin of the face and scalp. They are responsible for making facial expressions and chewing.
The facial expression muscles are located in the subcutaneous tissue, originating from bone or fascia, and inserting into the skin. They are positioned around facial openings (mouth, eye, nose, and ear) or stretch across the skull and neck.
By contracting, the facial expression muscles pull on the skin and exert their effects. They work together to control the parts of your face.
Some examples of facial expression muscles include the orbicularis oculi, zygomaticus major, buccinator, depressor anguli oris, and levator labii superioris.
The facial nerve (CN VII) innervates the facial expression muscles.
