Muscles of Facial Expression

Flashcards covering the key terms and definitions related to the muscles of facial expression and their functions.

Facial expression muscles

Muscles important for eating and communication that originate on the surface of the skull.

Platysma

The only muscle of facial expression that originates from the neck.

Epicranial aponeurosis

The collagenous sheet that connects the two bellies of the occipitofrontalis muscle.

Occipitofrontalis muscle

A muscle that forms the scalp and has two connected bellies, the frontal and occipital.

Orbicularis oculi

A muscle involved in closing the eye.

Orbicularis oris

A muscle that encircles the mouth, involved in actions such as whistling.

Zygomaticus major

A muscle that elevates the corners of the mouth, involved in smiling.

Buccinator

A muscle that compresses the cheeks, used in whistling and sucking.

Risorius

A muscle that pulls the corners of the mouth laterally.

Mentalis

A muscle that elevates and protrudes the lower lip, often referenced as 'cut' when shown in diagrams.

Masseter

A major muscle used for chewing located at the jaw.

Depressor anguli oris

A muscle that depresses the corners of the mouth.

Levator labii superioris

A muscle that elevates the upper lip.

Corrugator supercilii

A muscle that draws the eyebrows together, creating vertical wrinkles in the forehead.

Procerus

A muscle that pulls the skin between the eyebrows downward.

Zygomaticus minor

A muscle that assists in elevating the upper lip.

Mentalis (cut)

A visible muscle on diagrams that protrudes the lower lip.

Depressor labii inferioris

A muscle that depresses the lower lip.