Facial Muscles Functions Quiz

Cranial Anatomy

• Emissary veins are located in the dura mater, which is the outermost layer of the meninges.
• The layer uniting the occipito-frontalis muscles is the aponeurosis or galea aponeurotica.

Bone Articulations

• The suture articulating between the parietal and occipital bones behind the pterion is the lambdoid suture.
• The occipital bone contains the foramen magnum, which is the opening for the spinal cord.
• The sphenoid bone houses the optic foramen, allowing passage for the optic nerve.
• The mandible holds the mental foramen, which permits the mental nerve's exit.
• The frontal bone forms the superciliary arch, often pronounced in prominent brows.
• The infraorbital foramen is found in the maxilla, situated below the orbit.
• The condyloid process is part of the mandible, specifically at the posterior end, connecting to the temporal bone.

Bone Location

• The mastoid process is located on the temporal bone, posterior to the ear.
• The petrous part of the temporal bone forms the roof of the tympanic cavity.

Muscular Anatomy

• The risorius muscle is described as the 'grinning muscle' due to its role in smiling.
• The orbitalis oculi muscle is involved in protecting the eyeball by closing the eyelids.
• The foramen rotundum is associated with the maxillary nerve and not with the oculomotor nerve.
• The buccinator muscle compresses the cheeks against the teeth, aiding in chewing.
• The orbicularis oris is responsible for compressing the lips together during actions like kissing.
• The nasalis muscle group is involved in widening the nasal aperture.

Nerve Innervation

• The facial nerve (cranial nerve VII) innervates the orbicularis oris muscle, enabling lip movements.

Additional Bone Features

• The sella turcica is a depression in the sphenoid bone that houses the pituitary gland.
• The optic canal is also located in the sphenoid bone, serving as another passage for the optic nerve.

Test your knowledge of facial muscles by matching muscle actions with their corresponding names. Identify which muscles compress the lips, widen the nasal aperture, close eyelids, dilate lacrimal glands, and raise the eyebrows.