Facial muscles

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Facial muscles
Latin musculi faciei
Origin
Insertion   
Artery:
Nerve: facial nerve
Action:
Dorlands
/Elsevier		 m_22/12548981

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

[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 cranial nerve VII, also known as the facial nerve. In contrast, the nearby masticatory muscles are innervated by the mandibular nerve, a branch of the trigeminal nerve.

[edit] Development

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

[edit] List of muscles

The facial muscles include:[1]

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 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

[edit] References

  1. ^ Kyung Won, PhD. Chung (2005). Gross Anatomy (Board Review). Hagerstwon, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 364. ISBN 0-7817-5309-0. 

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[edit] External links

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v • d • e
List of muscles of head and neck: the head
Extraocular (CN III, IV, VI)
Mastication (CN V3)
Facial (CN VII)
Mouth/throat (CN IX, X, XI)
(except TVP=V3)
veli palatini (tensor, levator) - musculus uvulae - palatopharyngeus (to pharnyx) - palatoglossus (to tongue)
pharyngeal constrictor (superior, middle, inferior) - longitudinal (stylopharyngeus, salpingopharyngeus)
Tongue (CN XII)