Muscles of the Head

The superficial muscles of the head include the frontalis, temporalis, orbicularis oculi, orbicularis oris, nasalis, occipitalis, mentalis, zygomaticus, buccinator and masseter.

The frontalis muscle lies just above the frontal bone of the head. This allows you to wrinkle your forehead and raise your eyebrows.

The temporalis is the muscle above your temporal bone, the bone superior to your ear. This muscle allows you to close your jaw and maintain in such resting position as well as lets you move your mandible (jaw) side to side.

The orbicularis oculi is the muscle that surrounds your eyes. It allows you to close your eyelids such as when you blink or wink.

The orbicularis oris muscles surround your mouth. It is also known as the “kissing muscles” as it allows protruding your lips when you kiss. This muscle is also responsible in forming several letters through your lips when you speak. It also allows you to whistle and purse your lips.

The nasalis is the muscle around your nose. It is responsible for the flaring of your nose when you are running out of breath and it depresses your nose bridge as well.

The occipitalis muscle works together with the frontalis to wrinkle the forehead by drawing the scalp back. This muscle lies above the occipital bone or cranial bone that consists the back of the head.

The mentalis is the muscle comprising the tip of your chin. This muscle is also known as your “pouting muscle.” It can raise and push your lower lip upward, allowing you to wrinkle your chin when you’re disappointed or in doubt.

The zygomaticus is the muscle above your cheek bone or zygomatic bone. This muscle allows you to smile as it has the ability to raise the corner of your mouth.

The buccinator muscle is the muscle in your cheek. It helps in holding the food in your mouth or between your teeth when you are chewing. It allows you to compress your cheek and suck.

The masseter originates from the zygomatic arch and inserts through the mandibular angle. This muscle closes your jaw or mandible. It raises your jaw when chewing. The masseter belongs to the group of muscles known as muscles of mastication (chewing) together with the buccinators and temporalis muscles.

Muscles of the Neck

There are three major muscles in the neck, which include the sternocleidomastoid, platysma and trapezius muscles.

The sternocleidomastoid muscle is named after its three points of attachment: sternum (sterno), clavicle (cleido) and mastoid. This neck muscle allows you to flex your neck side-to-side and in anteriorly (front). It also rotates your head to the opposite side.

The platysma is the muscle that comprises the anterior side of the neck. This muscle pulls the lower lip downward and the corner of the mouth going sideward, which opens the mouth halfway just like when you are frightened or surprised.

The trapezius is the muscle that covers the back of the neck and upper part of the posterior torso. This muscle is capable of elevating, depressing, retracting and rotating the scapula. The trapezius is also used to rotate the arms.