muscles of facial expression


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fa·cial mus·cles

[TA]
the numerous muscles supplied by the facial nerve that are attached to and move the skin of the face. Terminologia Anatomica includes the buccinator muscle in this group because of its innervation and embryonic origin, even though it functions primarily in mastication.
Synonym(s): musculi faciei [TA], mimetic muscles, muscles of facial expression
Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

muscles of facial expression

Thin muscles that insert into the skin of the face; all are innervated by the facial nerve (CN VII). Scalp: frontalis and occipitalis muscles. Ear: anterior, posterior, and superior auricular muscles. Eye: orbicularis oculi. Nose: depressor septi, nasalis, and procerus muscles. Mouth: buccinator, depressor anguli oris, depressor labii inferioris, levator anguli oris, levator labii superioris, mentalis, orbicularis oris, risorius, and zygomaticus muscle. Neck: platysma.
See: face and headfor illus.
See also: muscle
Medical Dictionary, © 2009 Farlex and Partners
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References in periodicals archive ?
The muscles of facial expression are the group of most delicate muscles of human body; however they actively participate in the processes of mastication and phonation.
Anatomical alterations on muscles of facial expression caused by edentulism
The orbicularis oris is gradually freed from the other perioral muscles (muscles of facial expression) in order to maximize advancement of the flap.
The Karapandzic flap in recurrent melanoma of the lip
The phylogeny of the muscles of facial expression and the facial nerve is somewhat less easily understood than that of other muscles of branchiomeric origin.
Phylogeny and embryology of the facial nerve and related structures. Part I: phylogeny

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