Anatomy Class: Skeletal Muscles of the Head and Face

Introduction

• Tips for remembering skeletal muscles of the head and face
• Presented in manageable chunks of 4-8 muscles
• Focus on anatomical naming conventions

Forehead/Eyelid Muscles (5)

• Frontalis: Raises eyebrows, helps with facial expressions
  • Named after region (frontal)
• Occipitalis: Covers occipital region (back of skull)
  • Sometimes classified with frontalis as occipitofrontalis
• Orbicularis oculi: Circles eye, allows eyelid closure
  • Named for location and shape
• Corrugator supercilii: Furrows eyebrows, "angry face"
  • Located high and medially
• Depressor supercilii: Assists in eyebrow movement, located within orbicularis oculi

Extraocular Muscles (8)

• Rectus muscles (4): Control eye direction in straight lines
  • Superior, inferior, medial, lateral rectus muscles
• Oblique muscles (2): Attach to eye at slanted angles
  • Superior and inferior obliquus oculi
• Levator palpebrae superioris: Lifts eyelid
  • Name explains function
• Superior tarsal muscle: Works with levator palpebrae

Ear Muscles (6)

• Auricularis muscles (3): Anterior, superior, posterior
  • Directional terms with auricle (ear)
• Stapedius: Smallest muscle, stabilizes stapes (ear bone)
• Tensor tympani: Protects eardrum from loud noises
• Temporoparietalis: Between temporal and parietal regions
  • Differentiated by size and location

Nose Muscles (5)

• Transverse nasalis: Spans nose, compresses nostrils
• Alar nasalis: Dilates nostrils, located on nose edges
• Procerus: Tall, pyramid-shaped, sometimes called pyramidalis nasi
• Depressor septi nasi: Pulls down nasal septum
• Levator labii superioris alaeque nasi: Lifts upper lip and nose wings

Mouth Muscles (9)

• Zygomaticus major/minor: Originate at zygomatic arch, influence mouth
• Levator labii superioris / Depressor labii inferioris: Adjust upper/lower lip positions
• Levator anguli oris / Depressor anguli oris: Move mouth corners, also known as caninus and triangularis
• Mentalis: Located on chin, aids in expressions
• Buccinator: Main cheek muscle, "trumpet muscle"
• Orbicularis oris: Encircles mouth
• Risorius: Influences facial expressions, "Joker muscle"

Chewing Muscles (4)

• Masseter: Main chewing muscle, located on cheek
• Temporalis: Located over temple
• Lateral/Medial pterygoid: Help in chewing, located near jaw
  • Named for their position

Tongue Muscles (9)

• Extrinsic muscles (5): Attach tongue to other structures
  • Styloglossus, Palatoglossus, Hyoglossus, Chondroglossus, Genioglossus
• Intrinsic muscles (4): Alter tongue shape
  • Verticalis, transversus, superior longitudinal, inferior longitudinal

Conclusion

• For more muscle memorization, check linked playlist
• Encouragement to subscribe and like the video
• Emphasis on having fun and being good