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

Palpebral part of orbicularis oculi

Musculus orbicularis oculi, pars palpebralis

Origin

Medial palpebral ligament, anchored to the lacrimal bone and the frontal process of the maxilla

Insertion

Lateral palpebral raphe, at the level of the orbital tubercle of the zygomatic bone

Function

Produces gentle closing of the eyelids (blinking) and assists the lacrimal pump by squeezing the lacrimal sac empty during blinking

Innervation

Facial nerve (CN VII), temporal and zygomatic branches

Movement & chain

Responsible for spontaneous, reflexive blinking, unlike the orbital part, which is responsible for forceful, voluntary eye closure.

Palpation

Hardly distinguishable individually from the rest of orbicularis oculi; the movement is clearly visible as a gentle, symmetric eyelid closure during voluntary blinking.

Clinical

In a peripheral facial palsy (e.g. Bell's palsy), eye closure is no longer possible (lagophthalmos), risking corneal drying.

Segmental innervation

Facial nerve (VII), motor; no spinal segment.

In clinical practice

Drives gentle palpebral blink; corneal protection protocols (lubricating drops, moisture chambers) in lagophthalmos secondary to facial palsy.

Region in the model

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