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The human face has about 20 facial muscles that help with chewing and making facial expressions. One of these muscles is the orbicularis oris, a circular muscle that surrounds the mouth and controls the movements of the lips. It is a composite muscle that consists of two parts: a larger peripheral part and a smaller marginal part. The orbicularis oris muscle is responsible for closing, protruding, and compressing the lips, as well as facial expressions such as anger and sadness. It also plays a role in speech production, helping to form certain consonantal (labial) sounds. When the orbicularis oris contracts, it closes the mouth and puckers the lips, resulting in a lip-purse gesture that can signal thoughtful dissent or disagreement.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of muscle that purses the lips | Orbicularis oris |
| Muscle type | Composite muscle with two parts: a larger peripheral part and a smaller marginal part |
| Muscle function | Closes, protrudes, compresses, and purses the lips |
| Muscle origin | Buccinator muscle |
| Muscle insertion | Lips |
| Muscle shape | Circular |
| Muscle location | Surrounds the orifice of the mouth and forms the majority of the lips |
| Muscle composition | Numerous strata of muscular fibers |
| Muscle movement | Contraction of the muscle purses the lips |
| Additional muscles involved in lip pursing | Buccinator and direct labial tractor muscles |
| Brain area associated with lip pursing | Broca's area |
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What You'll Learn
- The orbicularis oris muscle is the principal muscle responsible for pursing the lips
- The buccinator muscle also plays a role in pursing the lips
- Direct labial tractor muscles of the lips contract to purse the lips
- The pars marginalis portion of the orbicularis oris muscle is located beneath the margin of the lips
- The pars peripheralis portion of the orbicularis oris muscle is located around the periphery of the lips
The orbicularis oris muscle is the principal muscle responsible for pursing the lips
The muscle is attached to the dermis of the upper and lower lips and serves as an attachment site for many other facial muscles around the oral region. It is composed of four independent quadrants that interlace and give the appearance of circularity. The orbicularis oris muscle is not a simple sphincter muscle, as was once thought, as the fibres of this muscle run in different directions.
The orbicularis oris muscle contributes to the form and shape of the lips. Contraction of this muscle closes and protracts the lips, and it is also responsible for various movements of the orofacial region. The position and movement of the lips are also acted upon by several mimetic muscles that elevate and depress the lips, such as the levator labii superioris and the levator labii superioris alequae nasi muscle.
The orbicularis oris muscle, along with the buccinator and pharyngeal constrictor, form a functional unit known as the "buccinator mechanism", which plays an important role in orofacial functions such as swallowing, sucking, whistling, chewing, vowel pronunciation, and kissing. If the buccinator and orbicularis oris muscles are weakened or paralysed, food may accumulate in the oral vestibule during chewing.
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The buccinator muscle also plays a role in pursing the lips
Pursing the lips is an action that involves several muscles working in tandem. The primary muscle responsible for this action is the orbicularis oris muscle, a complex, multi-layered muscle that surrounds the mouth and is covered externally by skin and internally by mucosa. This muscle is responsible for closing and puckering the lips when it contracts.
The buccinator muscle is composed of fibres that pass across the lips from side to side. These fibres can be divided into two groups: the uppermost and lowermost fibres, which do not intersect, and the middle fibres, which decussate at the angle of the mouth. The uppermost and lowermost fibres provide a structural framework for the lips, while the middle fibres help with the intricate movements required for pursing the lips.
Additionally, the buccinator muscle is involved in maintaining the shape and contour of the lip region. It works in harmony with the orbicularis oris muscle to ensure the lips are positioned and shaped correctly. Together, these muscles enable the fine motor control necessary for a range of facial expressions, including pursing the lips.
It is worth noting that while the buccinator muscle is involved in pursing the lips, it is not the only muscle at play. The orbicularis oris muscle, also known as the "kissing muscle," is the primary muscle responsible for this action, and it works in conjunction with other muscles, such as the levator labii superioris and the levator labii superioris alaeque nasi muscle, to achieve the pursing or puckering effect.
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Direct labial tractor muscles of the lips contract to purse the lips
The human face has about 20 facial muscles that are essential for chewing and making facial expressions. The direct labial tractor muscles of the lips contract to purse the lips. This action is performed by the orbicularis oris muscle, a complex of muscles in the lips that encircles the mouth. The muscle is made up of four independent quadrants that interlace and give the appearance of circularity.
The orbicularis oris is not a simple sphincter muscle, but instead consists of numerous strata of muscular fibres surrounding the mouth. It is composed of fibres derived from other facial muscles inserted into the lips, and fibres that are specific to the lips. The uppermost and lowermost fibres pass across the lips from side to side. The muscle is connected to the maxilla and the septum of the nose above, and the mandible below.
The marginal portions of the orbicularis oris muscle are also referred to as the labial cords. By changing their length and tension, they produce consonantal (labial) sounds. For example, the /p/ sound in "peas" or the /b/ sound in "basket" are produced by bringing the lips together. The /f/ sound in "feet" or the /v/ sound in "valley" are produced by pressing the lower lip against the upper teeth.
The contraction of the orbicularis oris muscle is important for mastication, as it works with the buccinator muscle and the tongue to prevent food from escaping the teeth and accumulating in the oral vestibule during eating.
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The pars marginalis portion of the orbicularis oris muscle is located beneath the margin of the lips
The human face has about 20 facial muscles that enable essential functions such as chewing and making facial expressions. One of these muscles is the orbicularis oris muscle, a complex of muscles in the lips that encircles the mouth. The orbicularis oris muscle is responsible for closing or pursing the lips. It is composed of four independent quadrants that interlace, giving the appearance of circularity. The muscle consists of numerous strata of muscular fibres surrounding the mouth, with some fibres derived from other facial muscles inserted into the lips, and some fibres unique to the lips.
The orbicularis oris muscle as a whole is responsible for various facial expressions and speech. It controls the shape and movements of the lips, enabling expressions such as anger and sadness. The muscle can close, protrude, and compress the lips, contributing to different expressions.
The orbicularis oris muscle is also involved in playing certain musical instruments. It is used in the playing of all brass instruments and some woodwind instruments. This demonstrates the muscle's versatility and importance in both speech and musical expression.
In summary, the pars marginalis portion of the orbicularis oris muscle is a crucial component of this complex muscle. Its location beneath the margin of the lips enables it to produce specific sounds and contributes to the muscle's overall function in facial expressions and speech.
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The pars peripheralis portion of the orbicularis oris muscle is located around the periphery of the lips
The human face has about 20 facial muscles that enable essential functions such as chewing and making facial expressions. One such muscle is the orbicularis oris muscle, which is responsible for controlling the movements of the lips. This muscle is composed of four independent quadrants that interlace to give the appearance of circularity. The orbicularis oris is not a simple sphincter muscle, but rather a complex arrangement of muscular fibres surrounding the mouth.
The orbicularis oris muscle has two parts: a larger peripheral part and a smaller marginal part. The peripheral portion, also called the extrinsic portion, arises from the modiolus, which is a dense fibromuscular nodule at the angle of the mouth. The modiolus is the origin point for several other muscles, including the levator anguli oris, depressor anguli oris, buccinator, risorius, and zygomaticus major muscles. However, most of the fibres that make up the orbicularis oris originate from the buccinator muscle.
The pars peripheralis portion of the orbicularis oris muscle, also known as the extrinsic portion, is located around the periphery of the lips. It extends from the nostril bulbs to the chin, encircling the mouth. This portion of the muscle is responsible for the pursing of the lips, which is a facial expression that can convey thoughtful dissent or disagreement.
The orbicularis oris muscle works in conjunction with other muscles, such as the buccinator and direct labial tractor muscles, to contract and purse the lips. This muscle is also involved in playing brass and some woodwind instruments, as well as in producing various facial expressions and speech sounds. The marginal portions of the orbicularis oris muscle, also known as the labial cords, contribute to the production of certain consonantal sounds by changing their length and tension.
The complex arrangement of the orbicularis oris muscle fibres allows for a range of movements, including lip pouting, twisting, and pursing. These movements play a crucial role in facial expressions and communication. By contracting specific parts of this muscle, individuals can convey a range of emotions and form different sounds for speech.
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Frequently asked questions
The orbicularis oris muscle is the principal muscle responsible for pursing the lips.
The orbicularis oris is a circular muscle that surrounds the mouth and forms the majority of the lips.
The orbicularis oris muscle controls the shape and movements of the lips. It closes, protrudes and compresses the lips, and is essential for facial expressions and speech.
The orbicularis oris is a composite muscle with two parts: a larger peripheral part and a smaller marginal part. The peripheral portion originates from the modiolus, arising from the fibers of the buccolabial muscles that attach to it.
In addition to the orbicularis oris, the buccinator and direct labial tractor muscles also contract to purse the lips. The buccinator muscle is particularly active in playing wind instruments and whistling.
