This document summarizes the muscles of the face. It describes the 6 groups of muscles: muscles of the scalp, eyelids, nose, mouth, auricle, and neck. For each muscle it provides the origin, insertion, and main action. Some key facial expressions are also listed along with the muscles involved, such as smiling which involves the zygomaticus major muscle. The document provides an overview of the major facial muscles, their anatomical locations, and functions in facial expressions.

1. FACE

2. FACE
Introduction
• The face is the anterior aspect of the head from the forehead to the
chin and from one ear to the other
Muscles of facial expression
• They are subcutaneous
They are grouped under the following six heads
1. Muscles of the scalp
 Occipitofrontalis:
• is a flat diagastric muscle with two bellies(frontal and occipital
bellies) which share a common tendon called the epicranial
aponeuroses
Muscles of the eyelids
 Orbicularis oculi
 Corrugator supercilli
 Levator palpebrae superioris

5. 3. Muscles of the nose
 Procerus
 Nasalis muscles
•
Tranverse part of nasalis muscle/ compressor naris
• Alar part of nasalis muscle/ dilator naris
 Depressor septi nasi
4. Muscles surrounding the mouth
 orbicularis oris
 Zygomaticus major
 Zygomaticus minor
 Levator labii superioris alaeque
 Levator labii superioris
 Levator anguli oris
 Depressor anguli oris
 Depressor labii inferioris
 Mentalis
 Risorius
 Buccinator

6. 5. Muscles of the Auricle
 Aurcularis anterior
 Aurcularis superior
 Aurcularis posterior
6. Muscles of the neck
 platysma

12. Common facial expression and the muscles producing them
• Surprise : frontalis
• Smiling and laughing : zygomaticus major
• Sadness : levator labii suprioris, levator anguli oris, depressor
labii superioris, depressor anguli oris
• Frowning: corrugator supercili and procerus
• Anger: dilator naris (alar part of nasilis), depressor septi
• Doubt: mentalis
• Grinning: risorius
• Closing of the mouth: orbicularis oris
• Whistling: buccinator, and orbicularis oris
• Tension and stress: platysma

14. Musclea
Occipitofrontalis
Origin
Insertion
Main Action(s)
Frontal belly1
Epicranial aponeurosis
Skin and subcutaneous tissue of
eyebrows and forehead
Elevates eyebrows and wrinkles
skin of forehead; protracts scalp
(indicating surprise or curiosity)
Occipital bellya
Lateral two thirds of superior
nuchal line
Epicranial aponeurosis
Retracts scalp; increasing
effectiveness of frontal belly
Orbicularis oculi (orbital
sphincter)1,2
Medial orbital margin; medial
Skin around margin of orbit;
Closes eyelids: palpebral part does
palpebral ligament; lacrimal bone superior and inferior tarsal plates so gently; orbital part tightly
(winking)
Corrugator supercilii1
Medial end of superciliary arch
Skin superior to middle of
supraorbital margin and
superciliary arch
Draws eyebrow medially and
inferiorly, creating vertical
wrinkles above nose
(demonstrating concern or worry)

15. Procerus plus transverse part Fascia aponeurosis covering
of nasalis3
nasal bone and lateral nasal
cartilage
Skin of inferior forehead,
between eyebrows
Depresses medial end of
eyebrow; wrinkles skin over
dorsum of nose (conveying
disdain or dislike)
Alar part of nasalis plus levator Frontal process of maxilla
labii superioris alaeque nasii3
(inferomedial margin of orbit)
Major alar cartilage
Depresses ala laterally, dilating
anterior nasal aperture (i.e.,
“flaring nostrils,― as during
anger or exertion)
Orbicularis oris (oral sphincter)3 Medial maxilla and mandible;
deep surface of perioral skin;
angle of mouth (modiolus)
Mucous membrane of lips
Tonus closes rima oris; phasic
contraction compresses and
protrudes lips (kissing) or resists
distension (when blowing)
Levator labii superioris3
Infraorbital margin (maxilla)
Zygomaticus minor3
Anterior aspect, zygomatic bone Skin of upper lip
Buccinator (cheek muscle)3
Mandible, alveolar processes of Angle of mouth (modiolus);
maxilla and mandible,
orbicularis oris
pterygomandibular raphe
Part of dilators of mouth; retract
(elevate) and/or evert upper lip;
deepen nasolabial sulcus
(showing sadness)
Presses cheek against molar
teeth; works with tongue to keep
food between occlusal surfaces
and out of oral vestibule; resists
distension (when blowing)

16. Zygomaticus major3
Lateral aspect of zygomatic
bone
Levator anguli oris3
Infraorbital maxilla (canine
fossa)
Risorius3
Parotid fascia and buccal skin
(highly variable)
Depressor anguli oris4
Anterolateral base of mandible
Part of dilators of mouth;
depresses labial commissure
bilaterally to frown (sadness)
Depressor labii inferioris4
Platysma and anterolateral body Skin of lower lip
of mandible
Part of dilators of mouth; retracts
(depresses) and/or everts lower
lip (pouting, sadness)
Mentalis4
Body of mandible (anterior to
roots of inferior incisors)
Skin of chin (mentolabial sulcus) Elevates and protrudes lower lip;
elevates skin of chin (showing
doubt)
Platysma5
Subcutaneous tissue of
infraclavicular and
supraclavicular regions
Base of mandible; skin of cheek Depresses mandible (against
and lower lip; angle of mouth
resistance); tenses skin of
(modiolus); orbicularis oris
inferior face and neck
(conveying tension and stress)
Part of dilators of mouth;
elevate labial
commissure—bilaterally to
smile (happiness); unilaterally
to sneer (disdain)
Angle of mouth (modiolus)
Part of dilators of mouth; widens
rima oris, as when grinning or
grimacing