The orbicularis oris is a complex muscle consisting of fibers that completely encircle the mouth. Its function is apparent when pursing the lips, as occurs during whistling. Some of its fibers originate near the midline from the maxilla superiorly and the mandible inferiorly, whereas other fibers are derived from both the buccinator, in the cheek, [...]
Lateral pterygoid muscle is a small, thick conical muscle that has backwards directed tip. From the roof and medial wall of the fossa to the neck of the mandible, it travels backwards and slightly lateral. Lateral Pterygoid Muscle Origin The lateral pterygoid has two heads, upper as well as lower: The upper smaller [...]
Suprahyoid Muscles of the Neck The suprahyoid muscles consist of following 4 matched muscles. Digastric. Stylohyoid. Mylohyoid. Geniohyoid. Digastric Muscle It is composed of posterior and anterior bellies and is a strap like muscle, united by an intermediate tendon. This muscle is called digastric, because it has 2 abdomens. Origin The point of origin of [...]
The stylohyoid muscle is among the suprahyoid group of muscles of the neck. It is a slender muscle which is located alongside the upper boundary of the posterior belly of the digastric muscle. Its inferior end splits and enables the passage of the digastric tendon. At the time of swallowing stylohyoid pulls the hyoid bone [...]
You must have seen patients with drooping upper lids who lift their eyebrows to provide a tiny bit more upper eyelid elevation. The frontalis muscle lifts the brows and is a weak retractor of the upper eyelids. The frontalis muscle is a part of the occipitofrontalis musculofascial complex (frontalis muscle, galea aponeurotica, and occipitalis muscle) [...]
The medial pterygoid is a dense quadrilateral muscle and is made up of two heads: superficial as well as deep. Medial Pterygoid Muscle Origin The small superficial head is a small strip of muscle that emerges from maxillary tuberosity as well as lateral side of the pyramidal process of palatine bone. The large [...]
The muscles in the submandibular region create 4 muscular planes; from superficial to deep, from the perspective of surgical procedures these are: First muscular plane: created by the digastric and stylohyoid muscles Second muscular plane: created by the mylohyoid muscle Third muscular plane: created by the geniohyoid, hyoglossus and styloglossus muscles Fourth muscular plane: created [...]
The masseter is a dense quadrangular muscle enveloping the lateral surface of the ramus of the mandible together with its coronoid process. The masseter muscle is a powerful muscle of mastication that raises the mandible. It is located over the lateral side of the ramus of the mandible. Masseter Muscle Origin [...]
The paired occipitalis muscles are thin and quadrilateral in shape originating by the tendinous fibers from the lateral two-thirds of the superior nuchal line and from the mastoid part of the temporal bone. They travel a short course after which its fibers insert into the galea. A space, which leaves between the two occipital muscles, [...]
The superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle is a muscle in the pharynx. It is the highest positioned muscle among the three pharyngeal constrictors. The muscle is quadrilateral muscle, which is thinner and paler compared to the inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscle as well as middle pharyngeal constrictor muscle. Superior Pharyngeal Constrictor Muscle Parts The muscle [...]