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Smiling is viewed across cultures as a sign of friendliness, especially when greeting someone. It takes quite a few muscles to smile, with estimates ranging from 10 to 43 muscles. The risorius muscle, also known as the smile muscle, is located on either side of the lips and pulls the corners of the mouth outward and upward. The zygomaticus major muscle, arising from the cheekbone, also plays a crucial role in smiling by drawing the corners of the mouth upwards. These muscles work together with others to produce a genuine smile, and their activation can even trick your brain into feeling happier.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of muscles involved in smiling | 10 minimum, 17, 26, or 43 in total (according to different sources) |
| Muscles involved in smiling | Zygomaticus major, zygomaticus minor, risorius, depressor anguli oris, levator labii superioris, orbicularis oris |
| Function | Pull the corners of the mouth upward and outward |
| Innervation | Facial nerve (VII) |
| Arterial blood supply | Facial artery and transverse facial artery |
| Use in surgery | Zygomaticus major may be used in reconstructive surgery; Risorius is manipulated during cosmetic surgery |
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What You'll Learn
- The zygomaticus major muscle is a muscle of facial expression, which draws the angle of the mouth upwards and backwards to allow one to smile
- The risorius muscle is located on either side of the lips and pulls the corners of the mouth outward and upward, helping to create a smile
- The depressor anguli oris muscle pulls the corners of the mouth downward, and when activated with the zygomatic muscles, results in a crooked smile
- The levator labii superioris pulls the upper lip up when we grin
- The orbicularis oris is the circular muscle of the mouth. It puckers the lips and brings the corners of the mouth towards the middle line
The zygomaticus major muscle is a muscle of facial expression, which draws the angle of the mouth upwards and backwards to allow one to smile
Smiling is viewed across cultures as a sign of friendliness, especially when greeting someone. It takes quite a few muscles to smile, with some claiming the number to be 17, 26, or even 43. While there is no definitive number, we know that at least 10 muscles are used in the most subtle, restrained smile.
The zygomaticus major muscle is one of the muscles that allow us to smile. It is a muscle of facial expression, originating from the zygomatic arch (cheekbone) and inserting at the corner of the mouth. When activated, it draws the angle of the mouth upwards and backwards, resulting in a smile. This muscle is innervated by the various branches of the facial nerve (VII), which sends signals to the brain that you are smiling.
The zygomaticus major muscle is not the only muscle involved in smiling. The risorius muscle, for example, pulls the corners of the mouth outwards and upwards, contributing to the formation of a smile. Other muscles, such as the orbicularis oris, levator labii superioris, and depressor labii inferioris, also play a role in smiling by puckering the lips, pulling the upper lip, and moving the lower lip, respectively.
It is interesting to note that activating the muscles associated with smiling can have a positive impact on our emotional state. Even if the smile is not genuine, the brain receives signals that we are smiling, leading to the release of endorphins, which are the body's natural painkillers and are associated with feelings of happiness and pleasure. This phenomenon demonstrates the intricate connection between our facial muscles, brain, and emotional responses.
In addition to their role in facial expressions, the zygomaticus major muscle and other facial muscles are essential for chewing and performing other tasks. They work together to control the parts of our face, allowing us to eat, smile, and talk. Damage to these muscles or the facial nerve can impair these functions, emphasizing their importance in our daily lives.
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The risorius muscle is located on either side of the lips and pulls the corners of the mouth outward and upward, helping to create a smile
Smiling is viewed across cultures as a sign of friendliness, especially when greeting someone. The human face has about 20 main facial muscles, which are essential for chewing, making facial expressions, and performing other tasks. These muscles work together to control the parts of our face, allowing us to smile, frown, or make other expressions.
The risorius muscle is one of these facial muscles, located on either side of the lips in most individuals. It is part of the superficial muscular aponeurotic system (SMAS), a fibrous network containing facial muscles that extend from the galea aponeurotica and platysma. The risorius muscle pulls the corners of the mouth outward and upward, helping to create a smile. This muscle is not always active in all people, and its function is to aid in facial expression.
The risorius muscle receives its blood supply from the facial artery and the transverse facial artery. The facial artery is a branch of the external carotid artery, supplying the chin and lip regions. The transverse facial artery arises from the superficial temporal artery, just below the zygomatic arch of the temporal bone.
The risorius muscle is innervated by the facial nerve, which has several branches, including the buccal and marginal mandibular branches. The facial nerve sends signals to the brain that you are smiling, leading to the release of endorphins into the bloodstream. These endorphins are the body's natural painkillers and are released during times of stress, excitement, love, and other emotional states.
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The depressor anguli oris muscle pulls the corners of the mouth downward, and when activated with the zygomatic muscles, results in a crooked smile
Smiling is a highly coordinated effort involving many facial muscles. The zygomaticus muscles, for instance, pull the circular muscle of the mouth (orbicularis oris) upwards. The orbicularis oris puckers the lips and brings the corners of the mouth towards the middle line.
The depressor anguli oris (DAO) is another muscle that plays a role in smiling. As its name suggests, it pulls the corners of the mouth downward and slightly laterally. This muscle is responsible for expressions of irony, sorrow, melancholy, and doubt. It also aids in opening the mouth while speaking or eating. When activated with the zygomatic muscles, the depressor anguli oris can result in a crooked smile. This can occur in people with Bell's palsy, where the depressor anguli oris muscle on the affected side is unnecessarily activated with the zygomatic muscles, resulting in a lopsided smile. The depressor anguli oris often wins this battle due to its larger size and strength.
The depressor anguli oris is also one of the frowning muscles, along with the corrugator supercilii, procerus, and orbicularis oris. Issues with this muscle can cause a persistent frown-like appearance, making it difficult to smile. Some people opt for cosmetic procedures like Botox to manage this constant downward pull. Botox blocks the nerve signals that make the muscles contract, helping to elevate the corners of the mouth.
The depressor anguli oris is essential for facial expressions and is involved in functions like chewing and talking. Isolated unilateral weakness of the depressor anguli oris muscle is the most common cause of facial asymmetry at birth, with one corner of the mouth failing to move downward when the child cries. However, in older children and adults, the absence of this muscle becomes less noticeable.
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The levator labii superioris pulls the upper lip up when we grin
Smiling is a complex process that involves the coordination of many facial muscles. The human face has about 20 main facial muscles, which are essential for chewing, making facial expressions, and performing other tasks. One of these muscles is the levator labii superioris, which plays a crucial role in lifting the upper lip and exposing the upper front row of teeth during a smile.
The levator labii superioris, also known as the quadratus labii or LLS, is a thin, quadrilateral muscle that originates from the lateral nasal aspect of the maxilla bone and extends laterally toward the zygomatic bone. It integrates into the upper lip's muscle mass, including the orbicularis oris, and works in conjunction with other muscles in the area, such as the levator labii superioris alaeque nasi (LLSAN) and the zygomaticus minor.
When we grin, the levator labii superioris contracts, pulling the upper lip upward and sometimes exposing not just the teeth but also the gums. This muscle is also involved in other facial expressions, such as sneering, anger, and grimacing. Additionally, it contributes to nasal flaring, retching, and oral movements.
The levator labii superioris is an important muscle in oral-facial expression and can be targeted for treatment in conditions like gummy smiles or Bell's palsy, where the coordination of facial muscles is affected, resulting in an asymmetrical smile. By understanding the role of the levator labii superioris and other facial muscles, researchers and medical professionals can develop effective treatments to help individuals regain their smile and facial expressions.
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The orbicularis oris is the circular muscle of the mouth. It puckers the lips and brings the corners of the mouth towards the middle line
Smiling is an important human expression. It is a highly coordinated work of many facial muscles. The human face has about 20 main facial muscles that are essential for chewing and making facial expressions. These muscles work together to control the parts of our face.
The orbicularis oris is a circular muscle of the mouth. It is a complex muscle that surrounds the orifice of the mouth and forms the majority of the lips. It is not a true sphincter but is composed of four independent quadrants that interlace and give only an appearance of circularity. The orbicularis oris is the main muscle of the lip and is responsible for controlling the shape and movements of the lips. It closes, protrudes, compresses, and puckers the lips. It also brings the corners of the mouth towards the middle line.
The marginal portion, also called the intrinsic portion, consists of a single or occasionally double band of muscle fibres. They stem from the modiolus towards the midline, passing through the connective tissue of the lips. The fibres curl upon themselves, forming the vermilion border of the lips at the junction between the skin and mucous membrane of the lips. The peripheral portion, also called the extrinsic portion, originates from the modiolus, arising from the fibres of the five buccolabial muscles that attach to it.
The orbicularis oris is innervated by the various branches of the facial nerve. When the muscles are activated, they send signals to the brain that you are smiling. Endorphins are then released into the bloodstream from the pituitary gland and the brain and spinal cord from the hypothalamus.
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Frequently asked questions
The zygomaticus major muscle is a muscle of facial expression, which draws the angle of the mouth superiorly and posteriorly to allow one to smile.
There are 43 muscles in the face, most of which are controlled by the seventh cranial nerve. However, there is no definitive number for how many muscles it takes to smile or frown. It is possible that a subtle smile or frown uses 10 muscles.
The risorius muscle is located on either side of the lips in most individuals and pulls the corners of the mouth outward and upward to create a smile.
Activating the muscles associated with smiling can fool your brain into thinking you are happy. When the muscles are activated, signals are sent to the brain that you are smiling, and endorphins are released into the bloodstream.
