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Health

Mimic muscles

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Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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According to their location (topography), the facial muscles (mimic) are divided into the muscles of the cranial vault; muscles surrounding the eye slit; muscles surrounding the nasal openings (nostrils); muscles surrounding the mouth opening and muscles of the auricle.

Facial muscles

Facial muscles

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Muscles of the cranial vault

The cranial vault is covered by a single muscular-anoneurotic formation - the epicranial muscle (m.epicranius), in which the following parts are distinguished:

  • occipitofrontalis muscle;
  • tendon helmet (supracranial aponeurosis);
  • temporoparietal muscle.

Muscles of the cranial vault

Muscles surrounding the palpebral fissure

The eye slit is surrounded by bundles of the orbicularis oculi muscle, which has several parts.

Muscles surrounding the palpebral fissure

Muscles surrounding the nasal openings

In the area of the nasal openings there are several small, poorly developed muscles that expand or narrow these openings. These are the nasal muscle and the muscle that lowers the nasal septum.

Muscles surrounding the nasal openings

Muscles surrounding the mouth opening

There are several well-defined muscles around the mouth opening. These muscles include the orbicularis oris, the depressor anguli oris, the depressor labii inferioris, the mentalis and buccinator muscles, the levator labii superioris, the zygomaticus minor and major, the levator anguli oris, and the laughter muscle.

Muscles surrounding the mouth opening

Muscles of the auricle

The muscles of the auricle in humans are poorly developed. The ability to move the auricle is very rare, which is combined with the simultaneous contraction of the occipitofrontal muscle. There are anterior, superior and posterior auricular muscles.

Muscles of the auricle

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