Facial Muscles Flashcards
What is the role of the Buccinator muscle?
Puff out the cheeks and prevent food from passing to the outer surface of the teeth during chewing
What is the role of the corrugator supercili?
The frowning muscle. It draws the eyebrows downwards and medially producing the vertical wrinkles on the forehead. It also contracts to prevent high sun glare, pulling the eyebrows towards the bridge of the nose
What is the role of depressor anguli oris?
Pulls the corner of the mouth down into a frown. Works in conjunction with Levator anguli oris
What is the role of depressor labii inferioris
Pulls down the bottom lip to sulk
What is the role of levator anguli oris?
The happy muscle, making the corners of the mouth turn upwards into a smile
What is the role of levator labii superioris alaeque nasi?
This dilates the nostrils and raises the upper lip. In animals it is associated with snarling and in humans is used when expressed discontentment. It is often referred to as the Elvis muscle
What is the role of the masseter?
It runs from the cheekbone to the lower jaw and brings the teeth back together to grind up food. The masseter is the strongest muscle in the human body
What is the role of the mentalis?
The muscle that makes us pout
What is the role of the occipitofrontalis?
This muscle draws the scalp back which raises the eyebrows and wrinkles the forehead
What is the role of orbicularis oris?
The circular muscle around the mouth. This muscle brings our lips together i.e. to kiss
What is the role of orbicularis oculi?
A distinctive muscle constructed of two parts. The palpebral and orbital. The palpebral area lies at the centre of the sphincter muscle and forms the eyelids with the orbital region encasing it concentrically. The Orbicularis Oculi muscle opens and closes the eyelids thus allowing us to blink, wink or squint in bright light
What is the role of the procerus?
The muscle draws down the medial part of the eyebrow when frowning
What is the role of the risorius?
The parotid gland is the origin of this muscle. It’s a very thin and delicate muscle that pulls the lips horizontally creating a large, albeit insincere smile
What is the role of the temporalis?
A thick fan shaped muscle that closes the mouth and assists the jaw to move side-to side to grind up food
What is the role of the nasalis?
This muscle is responsible for flaring the nostrils and compressing the bridge of the nose
What is the role of zygomatic major?
Elevates the upper lip to create a smile. Variations in the morphology of this muscle causes dimples
What is the role of zygomatic minor?
Elevates the upper lip to create a smile whilst also allowing us to curl our top lip which demonstrates smugness
Which muscles are involved in smiling?
Zygomatic major Zygomatic minor Levator anguli oris Levator labii superioris Risorius Orbicularis oculi Nasalis
Which muscles are involved in frowning?
Orbicularis oris Depressor labi inferioris Depressor anguli oris Mentalis Orbicularis oculi Corrugator supercili
What are the main branches of the facial nerve?
Temporal Zygomatic Buccal Mandibular Cervical
How deep is the facial nerve?
1-2 cm
Which muscle/s does the temporal branch innervate?
Occipitofrontalis
Corrugator supercili
Orbicularis oculi
What muscle/s does the zygomatic branch innervate?
Orbicularis oculi
What muscle/s does the buccal branch innervate?
Nasalis Levator labii superioris alaque nasii Levator labii superioris Levator anguli oris Zygomatic major and zygomatic minor Risorius Orbicularis oris
What muscle/s does the mandibular branch innervate?
Depressor labii inferioris
Depressor anguli oris
Mentalis
What muscle/s does the cervical branch innervate?
Platysma
What are the three divisions of the trigeminal nerve?
Opthalmic, Maxillary and Mandibular
What foramen does the opthalmic division exit from?
Superior orbital fissure
What foramen does the maxillary division exit from?
Foramen rotundum
What foramen does the mandibular division exit from?
Foramen ovale
