The facial muscles (also known as the muscles of facial expression) are situated within the subcutaneous tissue of the face and responsible for the movements of skin folds, providing different facial expressions.

• The facial muscles originate from bones of the facial skeleton (viscerocranium) and insert into the skin.
• The facial 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 in the calvaria region:

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

Facial muscles around the orbital opening:

• Orbicularis oculi
• Corrugator supercilii
• Depressor supercilii

Muscles around the oral opening:

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

Muscles around the nose opening:

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

Note: There are also muscles found around the ear - anterior, posterior and superior auricular muscles, which are generally considered insignificant in human anatomy, therefore, these facial muscles are not represented in this section.