The Musculature of the Head

The Two Groups of the Muscles of the Head

1. Craniofacial muscles
- related mainly to the orbital margins and eyelids,
the external nose and nostrils, the lips, the cheeks
and mouth, the pinna, scalp, and cervical skin.
These are collectively referred to as the muscles of
facial expression.
Common Characteristics of the
Muscles of Facial Expression

 All are inserted into the skin of the face;

 All are supplied by the muscular branches of the

facial nerve
2. Masticatory muscles-
- concerned primarily with the movements
of the temporomandibular joint.
The Musculature of the
Head
THE CRANIOFACIAL MUSCLES
The CraniofacialMuscles
 The craniofacial
muscles receive their
innervation from the
branches of the facial
nerve.

 They are grouped as:

1. epicranial
2. circumorbital
and palpebral
3. nasal
4. buccolabial
1. The Epicranial Muscles
The epicranius is made up of two main parts:
1. Occipitofrontalis
2. Temporoparietalis
The Epicranius

1. Occipitofrontalis
- covers the dome of the skull from the
superior nuchal lines to the eyebrows. It is a
broad, musculofibrous layer consisting of four
thin, quadrilateral parts- two occipital and two
frontal- connected by the galea aponuerotica.
The Epicranius

2. Temporoparietalis
- variably developed sheet of muscle that lies
between the frontal parts of the occipitofrontalis
and the anterior and superior auricular muscles.
Superficial fascia of the scalp

- is firm, dense and fibro adipose, and adheres

closely to both the skin and the underlying
epicranius, including its epicranial aponeurosis,
the galea aponeurotica. Posteriorly it is
continuous with the superficial fascia of the back
of the neck. Laterally it is prolonged into the
temporal region, where it is looser in texture.
 The Muscles of the Scalp

Muscle Origin Insertion Action Cranial

Nerve
Frontalis Aponuerosis Skin of the Pulls the VII –
of the scalp forehead scalp up and temporal
back branches

Occipitalis Lateral 2/3s Skin of the Pulls the VII –

of the occipital scalp posterior
superior area backward auricular
nuchal line, and forward branches
mastoid
process
2. Circumorbital and Palpebral
Muscles
This group of muscle if composed of the
following:
1. orbicularis oculi,
2. corrugator supercilii,
3. and levator palpebrae superioris.
Orbicularis Oculi
- is a broad, flat elliptical muscle which
surrounds the circumference of the orbit and
spreads into the eyelids, anterior temporal
region, infraorbital cheek, and superciliary
region. It has three main parts:
1. Orbital
2. Palpebral
3. Lacrimal
 Muscle Origin Insertion Action Cranial Nerve

Orbital part Bone of the Medial Closes eyes VII – temporal

upper medial palpebral forcefully and zyomatic
orbital margin ligament branches

Palpebral part Medial Fibers arch Closes the eye VII – temporal
palpebral laterally thru gently and zyomatic
ligament lids and branches
interdigitate
laterally in a
raphe

Lacrimal part Lacrimal bone Medial aspects Squeezes VII – temporal

behind the of the lid lubricating and zyomatic
lacrimal sac tears against branches
the eyeball
Corrugator Supercilii
- a small pyramidal muscle located at the medial end
of each eyebrow, deep to the frontal part of the
occipitofrontalis and orbicularis oculi, with which it
is partially blended.
Muscle Origin Insertion Action Cranial
Nerve
Corrugator Medial Skin Vertical VII -
supercilii aspect of underlying wrinkling of temporal
the the eyebrow the bridge of branches
supraorbital the nose as
margin in frowning
3. Nasal Muscles
The nasal muscle group is composed of the following
muscles:
1. Procerus
2. Nasalis
3. Depressor septi
Procerus

- is a small pyramidal slip close to, and often

partially blended with, the medial side of the
frontal part of the occipitofrontalis muscle.
Nasalis

- consists of transverse and alar parts which may

be continuous at their origins. The transverse
part is also known as the compressor nares and
the alar part is the dilator nares.
 Depressor Septi
- is often regarded to as part of the dilator naris.

Muscle Origin Insertion Action Cranial

Nerve
Depressor Medial fibers Mobile part Draw the VII –
septi of dilator of the nasal septum Superior
naris muscle septum downwards to buccal
narrow the branches
nostrils
 Muscle Origin Insertion Action Cranial
Nerve
Procerus Nasal bone Skin of Transverse VII –
and lateral glabella wrinkling of Temporal
nasal the bridge of and
cartilages the nose zygomatic
branches
Nasalis
Compressor Canine Midline Compresses VII –
Nares eminence of aponeurosis the nostrils Zygomatic
the maxilla overlying and buccal
nasal branches
cartilages
Dilator Nares Nasal notch Skin of Dilates or VII –
of the margin of flares the Zygomatic
maxilla nostril nostrils and buccal
branches
4. Buccolabial Muscles
I. Elevators, retractors, and evertors of the
upper lip
II. Depressors, retractors, and evertors of the
lower lip
III. A compound sphincter
The shape of the buccal orifice and the posture of
the lips are controlled by a complex three-
dimensional assembly of muscular slips. These
include:
I. elevators, retractors, and evertors of the
upper lip :

levator labii superioris alaeque nasi,

levator labii superioris,

zygomaticus major and minor,

levator anguli oris,

and risorius
II. Depressors, retractors, and evertors of
the lower lip

depressor labii inferioris,

depressor anguli oris, and

mentalis
III. A compound sphincter:
orbicularis oris,

accessory muscles to the

orbicularis oris

incisivus superior, and

incisivus inferior
 Muscle Origin Insertion Action Cranial
Nerve

Levator labii Frontal One slip goes Elevate the VII –

superioris process of the to the ala of ala of the zygomatic and
alaque nasi maxilla the nose the nose and the buccal
other to the upper lip branches
orbicularis oris
Zygomaticus Zygomatic Angle of the Draws the VII –
major bone mouth angle of the zygomatic and
mouth up and buccal
back as in branches
smiling or
laughing
Zygomaticus Zygomatic Skin on the Deepen the VII –
minor bone medial nasolabial nasolbial zygomatic and
to the groove groove as in buccal
zygomaticus sorrow branches
major muscle
 Muscle Origin Insertion Action Cranial
Nerve
Levator labii 3 heads:
superioris Angular Alar Elevates the VII -
head: frontal cartilacge upper lip zygomatic
process of and skin of and flares and buccal
the maxilla the nose the nostrils branches
Infraorbital
head: Upper lip Gives the
inferior expression
margin of of sadness
the orbit
Zygomatic Contraction
head: Nasolabial
groove and of the whole
zygomatic muscle gives
bone upper lip
the
expression
of disdain or
doubt
 Muscle Origin Insertion Action Cranial
Nerve

Levator Canine fossa Angle of the Elevates the VII –

anguli oris of the mouth angle of the zygomatic
or caninus maxilla mouth and buccal
below the (muscle of branches
infraorbital happiness)
foramen
Mentalis Incissive Skin of the Elevate the VII –
fossa of the chin chin. It also mandibular
mandible causes branches
trembling of
the chin. It
wrinkles the
skin of the
chin as in
disdain or
doubt.
 Muscle Origin Insertion Action Cranial
Nerve
Risorius Superficial Skin and Draw the VII –
fascia over mucosa of anglef the zygomatic
the parotid the angle of mouth and buccal
fascia the mouth laterally, branches
giving an
expression
of strain or
tenseness
Depressor Oblique line Lower lip Depresses VII –
labii of the the lower lip mandibular
inferioris mandible as in “irony” branches

Depressor Oblique line Angle of the Depresses VII – buccal

anguli oris of the mouth the angle of and
or mandible the mouth mandibular
Triangularis branches
 Muscle Origin Insertion Action Cranial
Nerve
Buccinator Pterygmandi The fibers Draw the VII - buccal
Or Bugler’s bular raphe, are directed angle of the branches
or buccal towards the mouth
Trumpeter’s alveolar angle of the laterally and
muscle processes of mouth to press the
maxilla and blending cheeks
mandible with he against the
upper or teeth while
lower chewing.
portions of Useful in
the mastication,
orbicularis swallowing,
oris muscle whistling,
sucking, and
blowing
 Muscle Origin Insertion Action Cranial
Nerve
Orbicularis Extrinsic Pass around Compresses VII -
oris fibers: the mouth the lips zygomatic,
From within the against the buccal and
insertions of lips as a anterior mandibular
circumoral sphincter teeth, closes branches
muscles the mouth,
and
protrudes
Intrinsic Pass
the lips
fibers: obliquely
From the forward and
incisive insert into
fossae of the the skin of
mandible the lip
and maxilla
 Muscle Origin Insertion Action Cranial
Nerve

Platysma Skin and The fibers Retract and VII -

-thin, sub- superficial are directed depress the cervical
cutaneous fascia of the upward and angle of the branch
quadrilateral pectoral and forward to mouth
muscular deltoid be inserted
sheet regions into the
covering the lower border
upper part of the
of the chest, mandible
side of the
neck and
lower part of
the face
Muscles of the
External Ear
Muscles of the External Ear
Muscle Origin Insertion Action Cranial
Nerve
Anterior Aponeurosis Anterior Pulls the ear VII -
auricular of the scalp, medial forward temporal
temporal aspect of branches
fascia the helix of
the auricle
Posterior Superior Inferior Pulls the ear VII -
auricular lateral medial backward Posterior
aspect of aspect of auricular
mastoid auricle branches
process

Superior Aponeurosis Superior Pulls ear VII -

auricular of the scalp, medial superiorly temporal
temporal aspect of branches
fascia auricle
The Muscles of Mastication
The muscles of mastication includes:

1. Masseter
2. Temporalis
3. Medial Pterygoid
4. Lateral Pterygoid
 Functions of the Muscles of
Mastication

 To move the mandible

 To secure then stabilize the mandibular positions
 To determine the direction of mandibular
movements
The Masseter Muscle
 The Masseter Muscle
 The masseter muscle is a small quadrilateral
muscle that covers most of the lateral aspect of
the ramus of the mandible.
 Lying superficial to this muscle is a portion of the
parotid gland, the parotid duct, the transverse
facial artery, and the various branches of the
facial nerve.
 Muscle Origin Insertion Action
Masseter
Superficial Zygomatic process Angle of the Elevation
head of maxilla and mandible and (bilateral)
inferior border of lower portion of Ipsilateral
anterior 2/3s of the lateral aspect excursion
zygomatic arch of ramus
(unilateral)
Protrusion
(bilateral
superficial
head)

Deep head Inner aspect of the Upper portion of Retrusion

zygomatic arch and the lateral aspect of (bilateral)
posterior third ramus
 The Temporalis Muscle
 fan-shaped, with the periphery of the fan attached to
the side of the skull and the handle of the fan
attached to the coronoid process of the mandible.
 covered by a strong membranous sheet of fascia,
which attaches superiorly to the superior temporal
line.
 Below, the fascia splits to attach to the medial and
lateral aspects of the zygomatic arch.
The Temporalis
 Muscle Origin Insertion Action
Temporalis Inferior Coronoid Elevation
temporal line of process of the (bilateral)
the skull mandible Ipsilateral
Temporal fossa Anterior border excursion
Overlying of the ramus of (unilateral)
temporal fascia the mandible
Retrusion
(bilateral)
 The Medial Pterygoid
 are the occupants of the infratemporal fossa.

 almost a mirror-like image of the masseter

muscle.

 rhomboidal and runs practically in the same

direction on the inner surface of the mandible.
The Medial Pterygoid
 Muscle Origin Insertion Action
Medial Medial aspect of Medial aspect of Elevation
Pterygoid the lateral the mandibular (bilateral)
pterygoid plate ramus and angle Protrusion
of the mandible
(bilateral)
Contralateral
excursion
(unilateral)
 The Lateral Pterygoid Muscle
 The lateral pterygoid is almost triangular in shape
with two distinct heads, inferior and superior
head, each with contrasting functions. It is the
only muscles of the four muscles of mastication
to occupy primarily a horizontal position.
The Lateral Pterygoid
 Muscle Origin Insertion Action
Lateral pterygoid
Inferior head
Lateral aspect of Pterygoid fovea of Depression
the lateral the condylar neck (bilateral)
pterygoid plate Protrusion
(bilateral)
Contralateral
excursion
(unilateral)

Lateral pterygoid
Superior head
Roof of the Pterygoid fovea of Elevation
infratemporal the condylar neck -particularly
fossa with interior head during power
(greater wing of Capsule and disc stroke
sphenoid) of TMJ
The Accessory Muscles of
Mastication
 Other muscles that
active in
mastication include
the suprahyoid and
infrahyoid muscles
of the neck.

 Both groups of
muscles are active
in helping to
depress the
mandible.
 Summary of Actions of the Muscles of
Mastication

Elevation:
1. the right and left
temporalis
2. the right and left
masseter
3. the right and left
medial pterygoid
muscles
 Summary of Actions of the Muscles of
Mastication
Depression:
1. the inferior head of the
right and left lateral
pterygoid muscles
2. the right and left
suprahyoid muscles
of the neck
3. the right and left
infrahyoid muscles of
the neck
 Summary of Actions of the Muscles of
Mastication
Protrusion
1. the right and left
lateral pterygoid
muscles
2. the right and left
medial pterygoid
muscles
3. the right and left
superficial heads of
the masseter
muscles
 Summary of Actions of the Muscles of
Mastication
Retrussion
1.The posterior
fibers of the
right and left
temporalis
muscles
2. deep heads of
the right and left
masseter
muscles
 Summary of Actions of the Muscles of
Mastication
Right Lateral
Excursion
1. the right masseter
2. the right temporalis
3. the left medial
pterygoid
4. the left lateral
pterygoid
 Summary of Actions of the Muscles of
Mastication
Left Lateral
Excursion
1. the left
masseter
2. the left
temporalis
3. the right
medial
pterygoid
4. the right lateral
pterygoid