{"id":1161,"date":"2020-07-23T08:23:31","date_gmt":"2020-07-23T08:23:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/meddists.com\/learn\/pre-clinical\/test\/head-and-neck\/muscles\/"},"modified":"2020-12-18T16:15:45","modified_gmt":"2020-12-18T14:15:45","slug":"muscles-of-facial-expression","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/meddists.com\/learn\/pre-clinical\/anatomy\/skull-head-and-neck\/head\/muscles-head\/muscles-of-facial-expression\/","title":{"rendered":"Muscles of facial expression"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As their name suggests, these muscles control the facial expressions by pulling and wrinkling the facial skin.<\/div><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Figure 1. The muscles of facial expression<\/strong> (Credit: OpenStack, CC BY-SA 4.0<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Description<\/h4>\n<\/span>\n\n\n

The muscles of the facial expression are located within the subcutaneous tissue, and they originate from and insert on bones or within the subcutaneous tissue. They have a common embryological origin: the second pharyngeal arch<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/span>\n

Groups<\/h4>\n<\/span>\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
FIgure 2. Muscles of facial expression<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

They are usually split into 5 groups, depending on their location and function:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Eyes<\/li>
  2. Nose<\/li>
  3. Mouth<\/li>
  4. Forehead and occiput<\/li>
  5. Neck<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n<\/span>\n

    Eyes<\/h4>\n<\/span>\n\n\n
    Muscle<\/strong><\/th>Innervation<\/strong><\/th>Function<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
    Procerus<\/td>Facial nerve — Buccal branch<\/td>Depresses the medial end of the eyebrows<\/td><\/tr>
    Orbicularis oculi (orbital, palpebral and lacrimal parts)<\/td>Facial nerve — Zygomatic and buccal branches<\/td>Closes the eyelids<\/td><\/tr>
    Depressor supercilii<\/td>Facial nerve — Temporal branch<\/td>Depression of the eyebrow<\/td><\/tr>
    Corrugator supercilii<\/td>Facial nerve — Temporal branch<\/td>Draws eyelids medially and inferiorly<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
    Table 1. Facial muscles around the eye<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<\/span>\n

    Nose<\/h4>\n<\/span>\n\n\n
    Muscle<\/strong><\/th>Innervation<\/strong><\/th>Function<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
    Nasalis (alar and teansverse parts)<\/td>Facial nerve — Buccal branch<\/td>Depresses the medial end of the eyebrows<\/td><\/tr>
    Depressor septi nasi<\/td>Facial nerve — Zygomatic and buccal branches<\/td>Closes the eyelids<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
    Table 2. Facial muscles around the nose<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<\/span>\n

    Mouth<\/h4>\n<\/span>\n\n\n

    The facial muscles surrounding the mouth create a complex pyramidal shape to provide \u201cfullness\u201d to the mouth and lips, joining at the modiolus<\/strong> \u2014 edges of the oral vestibule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Muscle<\/strong><\/th>Innervation<\/strong><\/th>Function<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
    Levator labii superioris alaeque nasi<\/td>Facial nerve — Buccal branch<\/td>Elevates the upper lip<\/td><\/tr>
    Levator labii superioris<\/td>Facial nerve — Buccal branch<\/td>Elevates the upper lip<\/td><\/tr>
    Levator anguli oris<\/td>Facial nerve — Buccal branch<\/td>Open the oral fissure<\/td><\/tr>
    Zygomaticus major<\/td>Facial nerve — Buccal branch<\/td>Elevates the labial commissure bilaterally (smiling)<\/td><\/tr>
    Zygomaticus minor<\/td>Facial nerve — Buccal branch<\/td>Elevate upper lips (sadness)<\/td><\/tr>
    Risorius<\/td>Facial nerve — Buccal branch<\/td>Depresses and elevates the labial commissure bilaterally (smiling and frowning)<\/td><\/tr>
    Buccinator<\/td>Facial nerve — Buccal branch<\/td>Assists in eating and resists dilation upon blowing<\/td><\/tr>
    Orbicularis oris<\/td>Facial nerve — Buccal branch<\/td>Closing oral fissure (kissing)<\/td><\/tr>
    Mentalis<\/td>Facial nerve — Mandibular branch<\/td>Elevates lower lip<\/td><\/tr>
    Depressor labii inferioris<\/td>Facial nerve — Mandibular branch<\/td>Depress the lower lip<\/td><\/tr>
    Depressor anguli oris<\/td>Facial nerve — Mandibular branch<\/td>Depresses the labial commissure bilaterally (sadness)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
    Table 3. Facial muscles surrounding the mouth<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    The levator labii superioris, levator labii superioris alaeque nasi, and zygomaticus major form a single, three-headed muscle under the name of levator labii superioris muscle (yes, the same name as one of its muscles!). <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<\/span>\n

    Forehead and occiput<\/h4>\n<\/span>\n\n\n

    The occipitofrontalis <\/strong>is a double-bellied muscle that spans from the forehead back to the occiput.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The two bellies (frontal and occipital) are connected by the middle galea aponeurotica<\/strong>, a thick layer of the aponeurosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Muscle<\/strong><\/th>Innervation<\/strong><\/th>Function<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
    Occipitofrontalis \u2014 Frontal belly<\/td>Facial nerve \u2014 Zygomatic branch<\/td>Elevates eyebrows and wrinkles the skin of the forehead<\/td><\/tr>
    Occipitofrontalis \u2014 Occipital belly<\/td>Facial nerve \u2014 Temporal branch<\/td>Retracts the scalp<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
    Table 4. Facial muscles of the forehead and occiput<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<\/span>\n

    Neck<\/h4>\n<\/span>\n\n\n

    The platysma <\/strong>is a superficial sheath of muscle embedded within the subcutaneous tissue of the neck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The platysma of each side extends from the upper chest of each side upwards, leaving a triangular uncovered area at the midline of the neck, before merging with each other as they reach and insert above the mandible, with some fibers joining the orbicularis oris muscle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It depresses the corners of the mouth and can be easily visualized by tensing the neck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/a>
    Figure 5. The platysma muscle<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<\/span>\n

    Facial expressions and activated muscles<\/h4>\n<\/span>\n\n\n

    Describing all the activated muscles during a facial expression is tedious since they work as a complex, but this list specifies the \u201cmost active\u201d muscles during each facial expression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1. Smiling\u00a0<\/strong>\u2013 Risorius (the \u201csmiling and frowning muscle”)<\/li>
    2. Sadness\u00a0<\/strong>\u2013\u00a0Depressor anguli oris<\/li>
    3. Anger<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 Procerus (eyebrows down and together)<\/li>
    4. Surprise<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 Occipitofrontalis<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n<\/span>\n

      Blood supply and innervation<\/h4>\n<\/span>\n\n\n

      All of the muscles of the facial expression are supplied by branches of the ECA and are innervated via the five branches of the facial nerve.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/span>\n

      Clinical information<\/h3>\n<\/span>\n\n<\/span>\n

      Bell\u2019s Palsy<\/h4>\n<\/span>\n\n\n

      Bell’s palsy is the paralysis of the face due to damage, trauma or compression of the facial nerves. The paralysis gives the appearance that half of the face is \u201cdrooped\u201d, and can be visualized when making facial expressions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \"\"
      Figure 4. Bell\u2019s palsy (patient\u2019s facial muscles on the left side are paralyzed)<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<\/span>\n

      Parotidectomy and damage to the parotid plexus<\/h4>\n<\/span>\n\n\n

      Damage to the parotid plexus of the facial nerve during parotidectomy (removal of the parotid gland) may cause irreversible weakness and paralysis to the affected side.<\/p>\n<\/span>

      Description<\/h4>

      Groups<\/h4>

      Eyes<\/h4>

      Nose<\/h4>

      Mouth<\/h4>

      Forehead and occiput<\/h4>

      Neck<\/h4>

      Facial expressions and activated muscles<\/h4>

      Blood supply and innervation<\/h4>

      Clinical information<\/h3>

      Bell\u2019s Palsy<\/h4>

      Parotidectomy and damage to the parotid plexus<\/h4><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Description The muscles of the facial expression are located within the subcutaneous tissue, and they originate from and insert on bones or within the subcutaneous tissue. They have a common embryological origin: the second pharyngeal arch. Groups They are usually split into 5 groups, depending on their location and function: Eyes Nose Mouth Forehead and occiput […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":1547,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1161","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nMuscles of facial expression – Meddists<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/meddists.com\/learn\/pre-clinical\/anatomy\/skull-head-and-neck\/head\/muscles-head\/muscles-of-facial-expression\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" 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