Facial Expression

Question 1

Levator Palpabrae Superioris

Answer 1

Origin: lesser wing of sphenoid bone
Insertion: upper eyelid (fascia and skin)
Nerve: oculomotor nerve (CN III)
Action: elevates upper eyelid

Question 2

Buccinator

Answer 2

Origin: maxilla and mandible (posterior alveolar process of both bones); pterygomandibular raphe
Insertion: modiolus (just lateral to the angle of the mouth)
Nerve: facial nerve (CN VII)
Action: compresses cheeks

Question 3

Corrugator Supercilli

Answer 3

Origin: frontal bone just above the nose (lateral to glabella)
Insertion: skin of medial portion of eyebrows
Nerve: facial nerve (CN VII), zygomatic branch
Action: draws eyebrows downward and medially (thinker’s brow)

Question 4

Depressor Anguli Oris

Answer 4

Origin: along oblique line of mandible; lateral aspect of mental tubercle of mandible
Insertion: modiolus (near angle of mouth)
Nerve: facial nerve (CN VII)
Action: depresses angles of mouth (frown)

Question 5

Depressor Labii Inferioris

Answer 5

Origin: mandible (between symphysis and mental foramen)
Insertion: skin and fascia of lower lip
Nerve: facial nerve (CN VII)
Action: draws lower lip downward and laterally, everts lower lip

Question 6

Depressor Septi Nasi

Answer 6

Origin: incisive fossa of mandible
Insertion: septum and alar cartilage of nose
Nerve: facial nerve (CN VII)
Action: constricts nostrils

Question 7

Frontalis

Answer 7

Origin: galea aponeurotica
Insertion: skin and fascia above nose and eyes
Nerve: facial nerve
Action: draws scalp posteriorly and raises eyebrows and wrinkle brow

Question 8

Levator Anguli Oris

Answer 8

Origin: below infraorbital foramen of maxilla
Insertion: modiolus (near angle of mouth)
Nerve: facial nerve (CN VII)
Action: elevates angles of mouth (smiling)

Question 9

Levator Labii Superioris

Answer 9

Origin: medial inferior orbital margin of maxilla
Insertion: upper lip muscles
Nerve: facial nerve (CN VII)
Action: elevates upper lip, everts upper lip

Question 10

Levator Labii Superioris Alaeque Nasi

Answer 10

Origin: frontal process of maxilla
Insertion: lateral slip: upper lip muscles; medial slip: alar cartilage of nose
Nerve: facial nerve (CN VII)
Action: elevates upper lip, flares nostrils, everts upper lip

Question 11

Mentalis

Answer 11

Origin: incisive fossa of mandible
Insertion: skin and fascia of chin
Nerve: facial nerve (CN VII)
Action: elevation of lower lip; everts lower lip; wrinkles skin of chin

Question 12

Nasalis

Answer 12

Origin: transverse part: maxilla (lateral to nose); alar part: maxilla, superior to canine alveolar process
Insertion: transverse part: opposite side nasalis over upper cartilage of nose; alar part: alar cartilage of nose (nasal wing)
Nerve: facial nerve (CN VII)
Action: flares nostrils (particularly in forced respiration)

Question 13

Occipitalis

Answer 13

Origin: lateral 2/3 of superior nuchal line and EOP
Insertion: galea aponeurotica
Nerve: facial nerve (CN VII); posterior auricular branch
Action: draws back scalp to raise eyebrows and wrinkle brow (surprise)

Question 14

Orbicularis Oculi

Answer 14

Origin: orbital portion: nasal process of frontal bone; palpebral portion: palpebral ligament; lacrimal portion: lacrimal crest of lacrimal bone
Insertion: circumferentially around orbit meeting at the origin
Nerve: facial nerve (CN VII), zygomatic branch
Action: closes eye tightly, squinting of the eye, depresses upper eyelid, elevates lower eyelid (palpebral part)

Question 15

Orbicularis Oris

Answer 15

Origin: modiolus (just lateral to angle of mouth)
Insertion: circumferentially around mouth; blends with other muscles
Nerve: facial nerve (CN VII)
Action: closes mouth; protudes lips

Question 16

Platysma

Answer 16

Origin: subcutaneous fascia (over deltoid-pectoral region)
Insertion: mandible and subcutaneous fascia of lower face
Nerve: fascial nerve (CN VII)
Action: tenses skin over lower neck; depresses mandible and lower lip

Question 17

Procerus

Answer 17

Origin: nasal bone and cartilage
Insertion: skin and fascia between eyebrows
Nerve: facial nerve (CN VII)
Action: draws medial eyebrow downward; wrinkles skin of superior nose

Question 18

Risorius

Answer 18

Origin: parotid fascia (superficial to masseter)
Insertion: modiolus (near angle of mouth)
Nerve: facial nerve (CN VII)
Action: draws angle of mouth laterally (false smile)

Question 19

Zygomaticus Major

Answer 19

Origin: zygomatic bone (anterior to zygomatic-temporal suture)
Insertion: modiolus (near angle of mouth)
Nerve: facial nerve (CN VII)
Action: elevates angle of mouth (smiling); pulls angle of mouth laterally

Question 20

Zygomaticus Minor

Answer 20

Origin: zygomatic bone (posterior to zygomaticomaxillary suture)
Insertion: skin, fascia, and muscles of upper lip
Nerve: facial nerve (CN VII)
Action: elevates upper lip, everts upper lip