Muscles of Facial Expression Quiz (ODS Learning Outcomes)

Muscles of Facial Expression

• Orbicularis Oris:

  • Origin: Bony attachments (anterior nasal spine, midline above chin).
  • Insertion: Interlaces with muscles around lips.
  • Action: Closes and opens mouth, compresses lips, protrudes lips.
  • Nerve Supply: Facial nerve (buccal branch).
  • Blood Supply: Facial, maxillary, and superficial temporal arteries.

• Levator Labii Superioris:

  • Origin: Lower rim of orbit.
  • Insertion: Orbicularis Oris at upper lip.
  • Action: Elevates upper lip.
  • Nerve Supply: Facial nerve (zygomatic and buccal branches).
  • Blood Supply: Facial and maxillary arteries.

• Zygomaticus Minor:

  • Origin: Zygomatic arch.
  • Insertion: Orbicularis Oris.
  • Action: Elevates upper lip.
  • Nerve Supply: Facial nerve (buccal and zygomatic branches).
  • Blood Supply: Facial artery.

• Depressor Labii Inferioris:

  • Origin: Beneath mandible's oblique line.
  • Insertion: Orbicularis Oris in lower lip.
  • Action: Depresses lower lip.
  • Nerve Supply: Facial nerve (mandibular branch).
  • Blood Supply: Facial and maxillary arteries.

• Zygomaticus Major:

  • Origin: Zygomatic arch.
  • Insertion: Travels downward and medially to blend with Orbicularis Oris at mouth angle.
  • Action: Elevates corners of mouth.
  • Nerve Supply: Facial nerve (buccal and zygomatic branches).
  • Blood Supply: Facial artery.

• Levator Anguli Oris:

  • Origin: Canine fossa of maxilla (below infra-orbital foramen).
  • Insertion: Orbicularis Oris at mouth corner.
  • Action: Elevates mouth corner.
  • Nerve Supply: Facial nerve (buccal and zygomatic branch).
  • Blood Supply: Facial and maxillary arteries.

• Depressor Anguli Oris:

  • Origin: Beneath mandible's angle.
  • Insertion: Converges into mouth angles, blends with Orbicularis Oris.
  • Action: Depresses mouth corner.
  • Nerve Supply: Facial nerve (buccal and mandibular branches).
  • Blood Supply: Facial and maxillary arteries.

• Mentalis:

  • Origin: Anterior mandible surface (incisive fossa).
  • Insertion: Chin skin.
  • Action: Puckers/pulls chin skin up, assists Orbicularis Oris in clearing food from labial sulcus.
  • Nerve Supply: Facial nerve (mandibular branch).
  • Blood Supply: Facial and maxillary arteries.

• Buccinator:

  • Origin: Pterygomandibular raphae, buccal alveolar bone (molar regions).
  • Insertion: Blends with Orbicularis Oris at mouth corners.
  • Action: Pulls mouth corner back, compresses cheeks against molar surfaces, aids mastication.
  • Nerve Supply: Facial nerve (buccal branch).
  • Blood Supply: Facial and maxillary arteries.

• Risorius:

  • Origin: Angle of mandible.
  • Insertion: Mouth corner.
  • Action: Retracts mouth angle, assists smiling.
  • Nerve Supply: Facial nerve (buccal branch).
  • Blood Supply: Facial artery.

Scalp Muscles of Facial Expression

• Occipitofrontalis (Frontalis):
  • Origin: Scalp connective tissue.
  • Insertion: Frontal region of eyebrows skin.
  • Action: Pulls scalp up/back, elevates eyebrows, wrinkles scalp.
  • Nerve Supply: Facial nerve (temporal branch).
  • Blood Supply: Superficial temporal and ophthalmic arteries.

Neck Muscles of Facial Expression

• Platysma:
  • Origin: Clavicle and shoulder.
  • Insertion: Lower mandible border, lower face and mouth skin/muscle.
  • Action: Pulls down mouth corners, wrinkles chin and neck skin.
  • Nerve Supply: Facial nerve (cervical branch).
  • Blood Supply: Facial artery and thyrocervical trunk.

Eye Muscles of Facial Expression

• Orbicularis Oculi (Orbital):

  • Shape: Horseshoe encircling the eye.
  • Origin/Insertion: Upper medial orbital margin.
  • Action: Closes eye forcefully.
  • Palpebral:
  • Origin/Insertion: Medial palpebral ligament arching laterally in eyelid.
  • Action: Closes eyes gently (blinking).
  • Nerve Supply: Facial nerve (zygomatic & temporal branches).
  • Blood Supply: Superficial temporal, facial, and maxillary arteries.

• Corrugator:

  • Origin: Bridge of nose.
  • Insertion: Lateral eyebrow skin.
  • Action: Pulls eyebrows medially (frown).
  • Nerve Supply: Facial nerve (temporal branch).
  • Blood Supply: Superficial temporal artery.

• Procerus:

  • Origin: Bridge of nose.
  • Insertion: Medial end of eyebrows.
  • Action: Pulls eyebrows down (frown), wrinkles nose.
  • Nerve Supply: Facial nerve (zygomatic branch).
  • Blood Supply: Facial artery.

Nose Muscles of Facial Expression

• Nasalis (Dilator and Compressor):

  • Nerve Supply: Facial nerve (buccal branches).
  • Blood Supply: Facial artery.

• Dilator Naris:

  • Origin: Nasal margin of maxilla;
  • Insertion: Skin of the nostril.
  • Action: Flares nostrils.

• Compressor Naris:

  • Origin: Top of maxillary canine ridge
  • Insertion: Midline over nasal cartilage
  • Action: Closes nostril

Ear Muscles of Facial Expression

• Anterior Auricular:

  • Origin: Scalp and temporal fascia.
  • Insertion: Anterior medial aspect of the helix.
  • Action: Pulls ear slightly forward.
  • Nerve Supply: Facial nerve (temporal branch).
  • Blood Supply: Posterior auricular artery.

• Superior Auricular:

  • Origin: Scalp and temporal fascia.
  • Insertion: Superior medial aspect of the ear.
  • Action: Raises the ear.
  • Nerve Supply: Facial nerve (temporal branch).
  • Blood Supply: Posterior auricular artery.

• Posterior Auricular:

  • Origin: Superior lateral aspect of the mastoid process.
  • Insertion: Inferior medial aspect of the auricle.
  • Action: Pulls the ear back.
  • Nerve Supply: Facial nerve (temporal branch).
  • Blood Supply: Posterior auricular artery.

Test your knowledge on the muscles of facial expression, including their origins, insertions, actions, nerve supplies, and blood supplies. This quiz covers key muscles such as the orbicularis oris, levator labii superioris, zygomaticus minor, and depressor labii inferioris. Perfect for students studying anatomy!