The zygomaticus major and zygomaticus minor help produce a smile (Fig. 8.59). The zygomaticus major is a superficial muscle that arises deep to the orbicularis oculi along the posterior part of the lateral surface of the zygomatic bone, and passes downward and forward, blending with the orbicularis oris and inserting into skin at the corner of the mouth. The zygomaticus minor arises from the zygomatic bone anterior to the origin of the zygomaticus major, parallels the path of the zygomaticus major, and inserts into the upper lip medial to the corner of the mouth. Both zygomaticus muscles raise the corner of the mouth and move it laterally.
The levator labii superioris deepens the furrow between the nose and the corner of the mouth during sadness (Fig. 8.59). It arises from the maxilla just superior to the infra-orbital foramen, and its fibers pass downward and medially to blend with the orbicularis oris and insert into the skin of the upper lip.
The levator labii superioris alaeque nasi is medial to the levator labii superioris, arises from the maxilla next to the nose, and inserts into both the alar cartilage of the nose and skin of the upper lip (Fig. 8.59). It may assist in flaring the nares.
The levator anguli oris is more deeply placed and covered by the other two levators and the zygomaticus muscles (Fig. 8.59). It arises from the maxilla, just inferior to the infra-orbital foramen and inserts into the skin at the corner of the mouth. It elevates the corner of the mouth and may help deepen the furrow between the nose and the corner of the mouth during sadness.
Several additional muscles or groups of muscles not in the area defined as the face, but derived from the second pharyngeal arch and innervated by the facial nerve [VII], are considered muscles of facial expression. They include the platysma, auricular, and occipitofrontalis muscles (see Fig. 8.56).
The platysma is a large, thin sheet of muscle in the superficial fascia of the neck. It arises below the clavicle in the upper part of the thorax and ascends through the neck to the mandible. At this point, the more medial fibers insert on the mandible, whereas the lateral fibers join with muscles around the mouth.
The platysma tenses the skin of the neck and can move the lower lip and corners of the mouth down.
Three of these muscles, “other muscles of facial expression,” are associated with the ear—the anterior, superior, and posterior auricular muscles (Fig. 8.61):
The anterior muscle is anterolateral and pulls the ear upward and forward.
The superior muscle is superior and elevates the ear.
The posterior muscle is posterior and retracts and elevates the ear.
The occipitofrontalis is the final muscle in this category of “other muscles of facial expression” and is associated with the scalp (see Fig. 8.56). It consists of a frontal belly anteriorly and an occipital belly posteriorly. An aponeurotic tendon connects the two:
The frontal belly covers the forehead and is attached to the skin of the eyebrows.
The occipital belly arises from the posterior aspect of the skull and is smaller than the frontal belly.
The occipitofrontalis muscles move the scalp and wrinkle the forehead.
The parotid glands are the largest of the three pairs of main salivary glands in the head and numerous structures pass through them. They are anterior to and below the lower half of the ear, superficial, posterior, and deep to the ramus of the mandible (Fig. 8.62). They extend down to the lower border of the mandible and up to the zygomatic arch. Posteriorly they cover the anterior part of the sternocleidomastoid muscle and continue anteriorly to halfway across the masseter muscle.