Facial muscles

Facial muscles
Head
Lateral head anatomy
Latin	musculi faciei
Origin
Insertion
Artery
Nerve	facial nerve
Actions

The facial muscles are a group of striated muscles innervated by the facial nerve that, among other things, control facial expression. These muscles are also called mimetic muscles.

Structure

The facial muscles are subcutaneous (just under the skin) muscles that control facial expression. They generally originate on bone, and insert on the skin of the face.

Innervation

The facial muscles are innervated by facial nerve (cranial nerve VII). In contrast, the nearby masticatory muscles are innervated by the mandibular nerve, a branch of the trigeminal nerve (V).

Development

The facial muscles are derived from the second branchial/pharyngeal arch.

List of muscles

The facial muscles include:

• Occipitofrontalis
• Temporoparietalis muscle
• Procerus
• Nasalis muscle
• Depressor septi nasi
• Orbicularis oculi
• Corrugator supercilii
• Depressor supercilii
• Auricular muscles (anterior, superior and posterior)
• Orbicularis oris
• Depressor anguli oris
• Risorius
• Zygomaticus major
• Zygomaticus minor
• Levator labii superioris
• Levator labii superioris alaeque nasi
• Depressor labii inferioris
• Levator anguli oris
• Buccinator
• Mentalis

The platysma is innervated by the facial nerve. Although it is mostly in the neck and can be grouped with the neck muscles by location, it can be considered a muscle of facial expression due to its common innervation.

The stylohyoid muscle, stapedius and posterior belly of the digastric muscle are also innervated by the facial nerve, but are not considered muscles of facial expression.

Additional images

Facial Muscles

See also

• Masticatory muscles
• Facial nerve
• Facial Action Coding System
• Modiolus

External links

• ARTNATOMY: Anatomical Basis of Facial Expression Learning Tool
• lesson1 at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University)