Muscles of the head

Muscles of the head

• Frontalis muscle Wrinkles the forehead.

• Occipitalis muscle Moves the scalp.

• Galea aponeurotica A tough band of connective tissue that connects the frontalis and occipitalis muscles.

• Buccinator muscle. Draws the cheeks into the oral cavity.

• Corrugator supercilii muscle Depresses the eyebrows medially (the "angry" muscle).

• Depressor anguli oris muscle Depresses the corners of the mouth laterally (the "frowning" muscle).

• Levator labii superioris muscle Elevates the upper lip.

• Mentalis muscle Elevates the skin of the chin and protrudes the lower lip (the "pouting" muscle).

• Orbicularis oculi muscle Closes the eyelids (the "sleeping" muscle).

• Orbicularis oris muscle Closes and protrudes the lips (the "kissing" muscle).

• Platysma muscle Tenses the skin of the neck (the "shaving" muscle).

• Zygomaticus major muscle Elevates the corner of the mouth (the "smiling" muscle).

• Masseter muscle Muscle of mastication responsible for elevating the mandible with power (an "eating" muscle).

• Temporalis muscle. Muscle of mastication that elevates the mandible with power (another "eating" muscle).

Muscles of the Neck

•  Sternocleidomastoid muscle. The sternocleidomastoid rotates the head contralaterally and flexes the neck when the muscles on both sides act together bilaterally.

• Trapezius muscle. The trapezius extends the head and elevates the scapula.