Structures

Head and neck muscles (chewing, facial, and throat muscles)

Muscles of mastication (temporalis, masseter, pterygoids), facial muscles around the eye and mouth, supra-/infrahyoid neck muscles, sternocleidomastoid, platysma, the pharyngeal constrictors, and the muscles of the larynx. Separate layer, toggled independently: combine with 'Skull' for the underlying bone.

52 entries

• Anterior belly of digastricOpens the mouth (depresses the mandible) when the hyoid bone is fixed; elevates the hyoid bone during…Musculus digastricus, venter anterior
• Aryepiglottic part of oblique arytenoidNarrows the entrance to the larynx (laryngeal inlet) by pulling the aryepiglottic folds together during…Musculus arytenoideus obliquus, pars aryepiglottica
• Corrugator SuperciliiPulls the eyebrows medially and downward ('frowning'), producing vertical wrinkles between the eyebrows…Musculus corrugator supercilii
• Deep part of masseterElevation (closing) of the mandible; stabilizes and slightly retrudes the mandible during chewingMusculus masseter, pars profunda
• Depressor Anguli OrisPulls the corner of the mouth downward and laterally, as in sadnessMusculus depressor anguli oris (triangularis)
• Depressor Labii InferiorisPulls the lower lip downward and slightly laterally, as in mockery or ironyMusculus depressor labii inferioris
• Depressor Septi NasiPulls the tip of the nose and nasal septum downward, and helps dilate the nasal alae during deep inspirationMusculus depressor septi nasi
• External part of thyroarytenoidAdducts and shortens/relaxes the vocal fold, assisting glottic closureMusculus thyroarytenoideus, pars externa
• Frontalis (forehead muscle)Raises the eyebrows and scalp, producing horizontal wrinkles in the forehead (surprise, attention)Musculus frontalis (venter frontalis van de m. occipitofrontalis)
• GeniohyoidPulls the hyoid bone forward and upward; opens the mouth when the hyoid bone is fixedMusculus geniohyoideus
• Inferior head of lateral pterygoidProtrusion and depression (mouth opening) of the mandible; unilateral contraction produces lateral (sideways)…Musculus pterygoideus lateralis, caput inferius
• Inferior pharyngeal constrictorConstricts the lower pharynx during swallowing; the cricopharyngeal part acts as the upper esophageal…Musculus constrictor pharyngis inferior
• Intermediate tendon of digastricActs as a functional pulley that redirects the pull of the anterior and posterior bellies, transmitting force…Tendo intermedius musculi digastrici
• Lateral cricoarytenoidAdducts the vocal folds by rotating the arytenoid cartilages toward each other (closes the glottis)Musculus cricoarytenoideus lateralis
• Levator Anguli OrisElevates the corner of the mouth and accentuates the nasolabial foldMusculus levator anguli oris (caninus)
• Levator Labii SuperiorisElevates the upper lip, as in contempt or cryingMusculus levator labii superioris
• Levator Palpebrae SuperiorisElevates the upper eyelid (eyelid opening)Musculus levator palpebrae superioris
• Longus capitisFlexion of the head and upper cervical spineMusculus longus capitis
• Longus colliFlexion of the cervical spine; assists mild lateral flexion and rotationMusculus longus colli
• Medial pterygoidElevation (closing) of the mandible; together with lateral pterygoid, assists the grinding motion during…Musculus pterygoideus medialis
• Mentalis MuscleRaises and wrinkles the skin of the chin, and everts the lower lip forward (e.g. pouting or holding liquid in…Musculus mentalis
• Middle pharyngeal constrictorConstricts the middle pharynx during swallowing and propels the food bolus further caudallyMusculus constrictor pharyngis medius
• MylohyoidForms the floor of the mouth; elevates the hyoid bone and tongue during swallowing; depresses the mandible…Musculus mylohyoideus
• Nasalis MuscleNarrows the nostrils (transverse part) or dilates them during deep inspiration (alar part)Musculus nasalis
• Oblique part of cricothyroidTenses and lengthens the vocal fold (together with the straight part), raising pitch during phonationMusculus cricothyroideus, pars obliqua
• Occipitalis (occipital muscle)Pulls the scalp and the galea aponeurotica backward; works together with frontalis to move the scalpMusculus occipitalis (venter occipitalis van de m. occipitofrontalis)
• OmohyoidDepresses and stabilizes the hyoid bone, especially during speaking and swallowingMusculus omohyoideus
• Orbicularis orisCloses and purses the lips; essential for speech (articulation of labial sounds), sucking, whistling and…Musculus orbicularis oris
• Orbital part of orbicularis oculiForceful, voluntary closing of the eye (e.g. against bright light or during coughing/sneezing); pulls the…Musculus orbicularis oculi, pars orbitalis
• PalatopharyngeusElevates and narrows the pharynx during swallowing, pulls the palate downward and helps close off the…Musculus palatopharyngeus
• Palpebral part of orbicularis oculiProduces gentle closing of the eyelids (blinking) and assists the lacrimal pump by squeezing the lacrimal sac…Musculus orbicularis oculi, pars palpebralis
• PlatysmaTenses the skin of the neck, pulls the corners of the mouth down and assists depression of the lower jaw;…Musculus platysma
• Posterior belly of digastricElevates the hyoid bone and assists lowering the lower jaw when the hyoid bone is fixed; important in…Musculus digastricus, venter posterior
• Posterior cricoarytenoidThe only abductor of the vocal folds: rotates the arytenoid cartilage so the vocal process moves laterally…Musculus cricoarytenoideus posterior
• ProcerusPulls the skin between the eyebrows downward, producing horizontal wrinkles across the bridge of the noseMusculus procerus
• RisoriusPulls the corner of the mouth straight laterally ('grinning', a social smile without Duchenne features)Musculus risorius
• SternocleidomastoidUnilateral contraction: lateral flexion of the head to the same side with rotation to the opposite side;…Musculus sternocleidomastoideus
• SternohyoidPulls the hyoid bone downward after elevation during swallowing or speakingMusculus sternohyoideus
• Sternothyroid MusclePulls the larynx downward, e.g. after swallowing or during low-pitch phonationMusculus sternothyroideus
• Straight part of cricothyroidTilts the thyroid cartilage forward relative to the cricoid, lengthening and tensing the vocal folds; raises…Musculus cricothyroideus, pars recta
• StylohyoidElevates and retracts the hyoid bone, lengthening the floor of the mouth during swallowingMusculus stylohyoideus
• StylopharyngeusElevates the pharynx and larynx and widens the pharynx during swallowingMusculus stylopharyngeus
• Superficial part of masseterPowerful elevator of the lower jaw (jaw closing/biting), with a slight protrusive componentMusculus masseter, pars superficialis
• Superior head of lateral pterygoidStabilizes the articular disc during jaw closing and assists coordinated chewing movements (unlike the…Musculus pterygoideus lateralis, caput superius
• Superior pharyngeal constrictorNarrows the upper pharynx and propels the food bolus caudally during swallowingMusculus constrictor pharyngis superior
• TemporalisImportant elevator of the lower jaw (jaw closing); the posterior fibers retract the lower jawMusculus temporalis
• Temporoparietalis MuscleRudimentary muscle; tightens the skin above the ear and can slightly raise the eyebrow; functionally almost…Musculus temporoparietalis
• Thyroepiglottic part of thyroarytenoidWidens the entrance to the larynx and pulls the epiglottis downward; contributes to the closure mechanism of…Musculus thyroarytenoideus, pars thyroepiglottica
• ThyrohyoidBrings the thyroid cartilage closer to the hyoid bone: elevates the larynx or pulls the hyoid bone down,…Musculus thyrohyoideus
• Transverse arytenoidAdducts the arytenoid cartilages and closes the posterior (intercartilaginous) part of the rima glottidisMusculus arytenoideus transversus
• Zygomaticus MajorPulls the corner of the mouth obliquely upward and laterally: the principal muscle of a genuine (Duchenne)…Musculus zygomaticus major
• Zygomaticus MinorElevates the upper lip and pulls it laterally, contributing to exposure of the upper teeth when smilingMusculus zygomaticus minor