The levator scapulae muscle is an elongated muscle present in the shoulder girdle. It acts as a connection between the upper limb and the vertebral column and can be located in the posterior triangle of the neck. Sternocleidomastoid covers the superior aspect of the levator scapulae whereas its inferior part is covered by trapezius and by its [...]
This muscle is an eye opener (pun intended). The levator palpebrae superioris muscle attaches into the tarsal plate and skin of the upper eyelid and is the primary elevator of the eyelid. Weakness in this muscle results in ptosis (drooping) of the upper eyelid and may reflect a problem with the oculomotor nerve. The oculomotor [...]
The levator labii superioris a.k.a. quadratus labii superioris is a muscle of facial expression. It is a wide muscular sheet; its origin spreads out via the side of the nose till the zygomatic bone. Levator Labii Superioris Origin The levator labii superioris muscle has three points of origin that blend and pass into [...]
Platysma is located within the superficial fascia of the side of the neck and it is a thin quadrilateral broad sheet of muscle. From the front of the neck it rises over the face. It symbolizes the residue of panniculus carnosus of animals anatomically. Its point of development is from the 2nd pharyngeal arch. The [...]
Digastric muscle is a muscular band that is made up of posterior and anterior bellies, which are joined by an intermediate tendon. Because of its two bellies this muscle is named digastric. Digastric Muscle Origin The bipinnate posterior belly- via the mastoid notch of the temporal bone. The unipinnate anterior belly - via [...]
The second muscle in the orbital group is the much smaller corrugator supercilii. which is deep to the eyebrows and the orbicularis oculi muscle and is active when frowning. It arises from the medial end of the superciliary arch, passing upward and laterally to insert into the skin of the medial half of the eyebrow. [...]
The nasalis is a muscle of the nose that contracts and dilates the nasal cartilages. It is made up of two parts, transverse/compressor and alar/dilator parts. It is structurally similar to a sphincter. Origin The muscle arises in the maxilla part of the skull and attaches within the nasal bone. The nasalis muscle is made [...]
The soft palate is a movable muscular flap, which hangs downwards from the posterior margin of the hard palate into the pharyngeal cavity. It divides the nasopharynx from oropharynx. External Features The soft palate presents the following external features: Anterior (oral) surface is concave as well as indicated by a median raphe. Posterior surface is [...]
The geniohyoid muscle is a slim muscle which is located superior towards the medial margin of the mylohyoid muscle. The geniohyoid muscle is among the suprahyoid muscles of the neck which is supplied via the ventral ramus of C1. Geniohyoid pulls the hyoid bone up and forward at the time of mastication and helps to [...]
The orbicularis oculi is a large muscle that completely surrounds each orbital orifice and extends into each eyelid. It closes the eyelids. It has two major parts: The outer orbital part is a broad ring that encircles the orbital orifice and extends outward beyond the orbital rim. The inner palpebral part is in the eyelids [...]