Facial & Mastication

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Muscle	Origin	Insertion	Action	Nerve
levator palpebrae superioris	lesser wing of sphenoid bone (anterior surface)	upper eyelid (fascia & skin)	elevates upper eyelid	oculomotor nerve (CN III)
buccinator	maxilla & mandible (posterior alveolar process of both bones); pterygomandibular raphe	modiolus (just lateral to the angle of the mouth	compresses cheek(s)	facial nerve (CN VII)
corrugator supercilii	frontal bone just above nose (lateral to glabella)	skin of medial portion of eyebrows	draws eyebrows downward & medially ("thinker's brow")	facial nerve (CN VII) (zygomatic branch)
depressor anguli oris	along oblique line of mandible; lateral aspect of mental tubercle of mandible	modiolus (near angle of mouth)	depresses angle(s) of mouth (frown)	facial nerve (CN VII)
depressor labii inferioris	mandible (between symphysis & mental foramen)	skin & fascia of lower lip	draws lower lip downward & laterally; everts lower lip	facial nerve (CN VII)
depressor septi nasi	incisive fossa of maxilla	septum & alar cartilage of nose	constricts notrils	facial nerve (CN VII)
frontalis	galea aponeurotica	skin & fascia above nose & eyes	draws scalp posteriorly to raise eyebrows & wrinkle brow (surprise)	facial nerve (CN VII), temporal branch of
levator anguli oris	below infraorbital foramen of maxilla	modiolus (near angle of mouth)	elevates angle(s) of mouth (smiling)	facial nerve (CN VII)
levator labii superioris	medial inferior orbital margin of maxilla	upper lip muscles	elevates upper lip; everts upper lip	facial nerve (CN VII)
levator labii superioris alaeque nasi	frontal process of maxilla	lateral slip: upper lip muscles; medial slip: alar cartilage of nose	elevates upper lip; flares nostrils; everts upper lip	facial nerve (CN VII)
mentalis	incisive fossa of mandible	skin & fascia of chin	elevation of lower lip; everts lower lip; wrinkles skin of chin	facial nerve (CN VII)
nasalis	transverse part: maxilla (lateral to nose); alar part: maxilla, superior to canine alveolar process	transverse part: opposite side nasalis over upper cartilage of nose; alar part: alar cartilage of nose (nasal wing)	flares nostrils (particularly in forced respiration)	facial nerve (CN VII)
occipitalis	lateral 2/3 of superior nuchal line & EOP	galea aponeurotica	draws back scalp to raise eyebrows & wrinkle brow (surprise)	facial nerve (CN VII), posterior auricular branch
orbicularis oculi	orbital portion: nasal process of frontal bone; palpebral portion: palpebral ligament; lacrimal portion: lacrimal crest of lacrimal bone	circumferentially around orbit meeting at the origin	closes eye tightly, squinting of the eye; depresses upper eye lid, elevates lower eyelid (palpebral part)	facial nerve (CN VII) (zygomatic branch)
orbicularis oris	modiolus (just lateral to angle of mouth)	circumferentially around mouth; blends with other muscles	closes mouth; protrudes lips (puckering of lips)	facial nerve (CN VII)
platysma	subcutaneous fascia (over deltoid-pectoral region)	mandible & subcutaneous fascia of lower face	tenses skin over lower neck (creates ridge in skin); depress mandible & lower lip	facial nerve (CN VII)
procerus	nasal bone & cartilages	Skin & fascia between eyebrows	draws medial eyebrow downward (menacing expression); wrinkles skin of superior nose	facial nerve ( CN VII) (superior buccal branches)
risorius	parotid fascia (superficial to masseter)	modiolus (near angle of mouth)	draws angle of mouth laterally (false smile)	facial nerve (CN VII)
zygomaticus major	zygomatic bone (anterior to zygomatic-temporal suture)	modiolus (near angle of mouth)	elevates angle of mouth (smiling); pulls angle of mouth laterally	facial nerve (CN VII)
zygomaticus minor	zygomatic bone (posterior to zygomaticmaxillary suture)	skin, fascia & muscles of upper lip	elevates upper lip (smile); everts upper lip	facial nerve (CN VII)

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        The jaws are opened by the lateral pterygoid muscle & are closed by the temporalis, masseter, & medial pterygoid.

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Muscle	Origin	Insertion	Action	Nerve
Lateral pterygoid	superior head: greater wing of sphenoid; inferior head: lateral surface of lateral pterygoid plate	superior head: capsule & articular disc of TMJ; inferior head: neck of mandibular condyle	protraction of the mandible; lateral deviation of mandible to side opposite of contraction (during chewing)	trigeminal nerve (CN V)
Masseter	superficial part: zygomatic process of maxilla; inferior border of zygomatic arch; deep part: posterior aspect of inferior border of zygomatic arch	superficial part: angle & ramus of mandible; deep part: superior ramus & coronoid process of mandible	elevation of mandible (clenches teeth); protraction of mandible; retraction of mandible	trigeminal nerve (CN V)
Medial pterygoid	medial surface of lateral pterygoid plate of sphenoid; palatine bone & pterygoid fossa	inner surface of mandibular ramus & angle of mandible	elevation of mandible (clenches teeth); protraction of mandible; lateral deviation of mandible	trigeminal nerve (CN V)
Temporalis	temporal fossa	coronoid process & ramus of mandible	elevation of mandible; retraction of mandible (posterior fibers)	trigeminal nerve (CN V) (mandibular branch)

These muscle tables are often slightly different than those found in the muscle manual and other texts to allow students learning to realize there are subtle differences in anatomical variation and nomenclature ultimate allowing you to be more aware of real life presentation – after 15 years and over 400 cadaver dissections this author is always amazed at the differences found in the human body every time we are in the cadaver lab – all text books and videos are only accurate to a point!