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.

Contents 1 Structure 2 Innervation 3 Development 4 List of muscles 5 See also 6 References 7 External links

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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).

[edit] Development

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

[edit] List of muscles

The facial muscles include:^[1]

• Occipitofrontalis
• Procerus
• Nasalis muscle
• Depressor septi nasi
• Orbicularis oculi
• Corrugator supercilii
• Depressor supercilii
• Auricular muscles (anterior, superior, 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, due to its common innervation it can sometimes also be considered a muscle of facial expression.^{[citation needed]}

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.

[edit] See also

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

[edit] References

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[edit] External links

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

v • d • e List of muscles of head and neck: the head (TA A04.1, GA 4.378) Extraocular (CN III, IV, VI) oblique (inferior, superior) · rectus (superior, inferior, medial, lateral) · levator palpebrae superioris (superior tarsal) Mastication (CN V3) masseter · temporalis (sphenomandibularis) · pterygoid (lateral, medial) fascia: Masseteric fascia · Temporal fascia Facial (CN VII) Ear auricular (anterior, superior, posterior) · temporoparietalis Scalp/eyelid occipitofrontalis (occipitalis, frontalis) · orbicularis oculi (depressor supercilii) · corrugator supercilii fascia: Galea aponeurotica Nose procerus · nasalis (dilatator naris) · depressor septi nasi  · levator labii superioris alaeque nasi Mouth levator anguli oris · levator labii superioris · zygomaticus (major, minor) orbicularis oris · risorius · buccinator depressor anguli oris · depressor labii inferioris · mentalis Mouth/throat (CN IX, X, XI) (except TVP=V3) Soft palate veli palatini (tensor, levator) · musculus uvulae · palatopharyngeus (to pharynx) · palatoglossus (to tongue) Tongue (CN XII) extrinsic (genioglossus, hyoglossus/chondroglossus, styloglossus, and palatoglossus) · intrinsic (superior longitudinal, inferior longitudinal, transverse, vertical)

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