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

Levator Labii Superioris

Musculus levator labii superioris

Origin

Inferior margin of the orbit (infraorbital margin), above the infraorbital foramen

Insertion

Skin and muscle tissue of the upper lip, lateral to the philtrum

Function

Elevates the upper lip, as in contempt or crying

Innervation

Zygomatic and buccal branches of the facial nerve (CN VII)

Movement & chain

Elevates the upper lip in a purely mimetic movement, without involvement of a joint chain.

Palpation

Palpable just below the orbital margin, lateral to the nose, when the upper lip is actively raised.

Clinical

Part of the muscle group around the facial 'danger triangle'; relevant in lip augmentation and in analyzing an asymmetric smile.

Segmental innervation

CN VII, motor.

In clinical practice

Elevates the upper lip; facial neuromuscular retraining using mirror biofeedback to restore smile symmetry following Bell's palsy.

Region in the model

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