GUIDE
Head and Neck: Superficial Face
[Plate 25, Muscles of Facial Expression: Lateral View]Face
page 12
page 13
Subcutaneous tissue of face
Contains muscles of facial expression
Contains varying amount of fat-for example, buccal fat pads of the cheek
Highly vascular
Contains sensory branches of trigeminal (V) nerve, upper cervical spinal nerves and motor branches of the facial nerve (VII)
Traversed by skin ligaments (retinacula cutis)
Bands of connective tissue
Connect skin to bones
Muscles of facial expression
The muscles of facial expression are in several ways unique among the skeletal muscles of the body. They all originate embryologically
from the second pharyngeal arch and are all innervated by terminal branches of the facial nerve (cranial nerve [CN] VII). Additionally, most
arise from the bones of the face or fascia, and insert into the dermis of the skin overlying the scalp, face, and anterolateral neck.
Lie within superficial fascia
Most arise from bone and insert into skin
Arranged as sphincters or dilators around orifices of face
Innervated by one of five main branches of facial nerve (occipitalis innervated by posterior auricular branch)
Muscles related to the orbit
Orbicularis oculi
Composed of three parts: lacrimal, palpebral, orbital
Lacrimal part draws eyelids and lacrimal puncta medially to drain tears
Inner palpebral part gently closes eyelids (blinking)
Outer orbital part that tightly closes eyelids (squinting)
Corrugator supercilii
Draws medial end of eyebrow medially and inferiorly for a concerned look