Muscles of Facial Expression

Occipitofrontalis

a large muscle that covers the scalp and connects the forehead and back of the head. Raises eyebrows and moves the scalp.

Occipital belly

Back (posterior) portion of the epicranius; muscle that draws the scalp backward.

Mentalis

Elevates and protrudes lower lip on chin

Buccinator

compresses cheek

Masseter

prime mover of jaw closure

Risorius

Draws corner of mouth laterally

Zygomaticus major

raises corner of mouth (smile)

orbicularis oculi

closes eye

orbicularis oris

closes lips

depressor labii inferioris

Depresses the lower lip (frowning)

depressor anguli oris

draws the corner of the mouth inferiorly and laterally (frowning)

levator labii superioris

elevates and furrows upper lip (Napeleon Dynamite face; sadness)

levator anguli oris

Widens the mouth, elevates the corners of the mouth (smiling)

corrugator supercilii

draws eyebrows medially and inferiorly

Nasalis

flares nostrils

Temporalis

elevates and retracts mandible

Frontal belly

covers forehead (raises eyebrows and wrinkles forehead).

Epicranial Aponeurosis

a strong, thin, fibrous sheet of connective tissue that forms the third and strongest layer of the scalp; connects bellies together.

Levator palpebrae superioris

runs from the posterior orbit to the superior eyelid; elevates the superior eyelid to open the eye (innervated by CN III).

Levator labii superioris alaequae nasi

Elevates the upper lip, dilates the nostrils (Elvis snarl)

Procerus

between the eyebrows over the nasal bone; depresses medial eyebrow, wrinkles skin over the nose (furrowing your brow)

Zygomaticus minor

Raises the corner of the mouth/lateral upper lip (smile)

Platysma

Tenses the skin of the inferior face and neck, depresses the jaw