The facial muscles (also called the muscles of facial expression) are situated within the subcutaneous tissue of the face. They are responsible for the movements of skin folds, providing different facial expressions. The facial muscles originate from the bones of the facial skeleton (viscerocranium) and insert into the skin.

These muscles are mostly grouped around the natural orifices of the face (eyes, nose, and mouth), taking part in the closing or widening of these orifices.

All muscles of facial expression are innervated by branches of the facial nerve (CN VII).

Facial muscles around the orbital opening:

• Orbicularis oculi muscle
• Corrugator supercilii muscle
• Depressor supercilii muscle

Muscles around the oral opening:

• Orbicularis oris muscle
• Depressor anguli oris muscle
• Depressor labii inferioris muscle
• Levator anguli oris muscle
• Levator labii superioris muscle
• Levator labii superioris alaeque nasi muscle
• Mentalis muscle
• Risorius muscle
• Zygomaticus minor muscle
• Zygomaticus major muscle
• Buccinator muscle

Muscles around the nose opening:

• Compressor narium minor muscle
• Dilator naris anterior muscle
• Levator labii superioris alaeque nasi muscle
• Nasalis muscle
  • Transverse nasalis
  • Alar nasalis
• Procerus muscle
• Depressor septi nasi muscle

Facial muscles in the calvaria region:

• Occipitofrontalis muscle
  • Frontalis muscle (frontal belly)
  • Occipitalis muscle (occipital belly)

Click here to check out our study unit devoted entirely to the facial muscles and learn in detail about each one of them!