Facial Muscles Functions

Frontalis

Raises eyebrows and wrinkles forehead

Nasalis

Moves the skin on the nose

Orbicularis Oculi

ring of muscle that closes eyes, squints, blinks and winks ;)

Orbicularis Oris

Closes mouth and protrudes the lips (kissing muscle)

Zygomaticus

Elevates upper mouth; Raises corner of the mouth

Levator labii Superioris

Raises upper lip; Flares nostrils

Levator Anguli Oris

raises corner of the mouth (SMILE)

Risorius

Draws the corner of the lip laterally; pulls the lips and face back

Depressor Labia Inferior

Draws lower lip downward :(

Depressor Anguli Oris

Draws corners of mouth downward and laterally

Mentalis

Protrudes lower lip; wrinkles chin

Platysma

Depresses mandible (jaw) ; Pulls lower lip back and down

Masseter

Closes the jaw and elevates the mandible

Temporalis

Synergist of the masseter; closes the jaw; Elevates and retracts the mandible

Medial Pterygoid

Elevates the mandible

Lateral Pterygoid

forward sliding; side to side grinding

Type of muscle: prime mover

muscle with the major responsibility for certain movement

Buccinator

Chews; flattens the cheek

Sternocleidomastoid

Rotate the head to opposite side; flexes neck

Type of muscle: Antagonist

Muscle that opposes or reverses a prime mover

Types of muscle: Synergist

muscle that aids a prime mover in a movement and help prevent rotation

Type of muscle: Fixator

Stabilizes the origin of a prime mover