Facial Muscle
Muscles of Facial Expression, Communication and Function
Facial muscles are specialized skeletal muscles that originate from the skull and insert into the skin, producing facial expression, communication, and emotional display.
Expression
Emotion
Innervation
Epicranial Muscles
Occipitofrontalis
Moves the scalp and elevates the eyebrows, contributing to facial expression and forehead movement.
Temporoparietalis
A thin superficial muscle assisting scalp movement and external ear positioning.
Auricularis
Small muscles that produce limited movements of the external ear in humans.
Orbital Muscles
Orbicularis Oculi
Closes the eyelids during blinking, voluntary closure, and protection of the ocular surface.
Corrugator Supercili
Draws the eyebrows medially and inferiorly, producing vertical forehead wrinkles during frowning.
Depressor Supercilii
Depresses the medial eyebrow, assisting facial expressions associated with concentration and concern.
Nasal Muscles
Procerus
Depresses the medial eyebrow and wrinkles the skin over the nasal bridge.
Nasalis Muscle
Compresses or dilates the nostrils, regulating the nasal aperture during respiration.
Depressor Septi Nasi
Draws the nasal septum inferiorly and assists narrowing of the nostrils.
Levator Alequae Nasi
Elevates the upper lip and dilates the nostril during facial expression and inspiration.
Upper Lip Muscle
Levator labii Superioris
Elevates the upper lip during smiling and facial expression.
Zygomaticus Minor
Raises the upper lip and deepens the nasolabial fold.
Zygomaticus Major
Elevates and retracts the angle of the mouth during smiling.
Levator Anguli Oris
Elevates the oral commissure, contributing to positive facial expressions.
Oral Muscles
Orbicularis Oris
Encircles the mouth, controlling lip closure, compression, and protrusion.
Buccinator
Compresses the cheek against the teeth, facilitating mastication, blowing, and speech.
Risorius
Retracts the angle of the mouth laterally during smiling and facial expression.
Lower Lip Muscle
Depressor Labii Inferioris
Depresses and everts the lower lip during facial expression.
Depressor Anguli Oris
Pulls the angle of the mouth inferiorly, producing expressions of sadness or displeasure.
Mentalis
Elevates and protrudes the lower lip while wrinkling the skin of the chin.
Cervical Muscles
Platysma
A thin superficial cervical muscle that tenses the skin of the neck, depresses the lower lip and mandible, and contributes to facial expression and protective neck movements.
Key Point
All muscles of the Facial expression are innervated by the facial Nerve (CN VII), except for the Platysma, which receives innervation from the cervical branch of the Facial Nerve (CN VII).