Head

Muscles of the Face

m. Orbicularis oris

Encircles mouth, contractions shut mouth

m. levator labii superioris

Elevates upper lip, Flehmen Response

m.levator nasolabialis

Lifts lateral angel of lip, dilates nostril. Frontal bone to upper lip and outer rim of nostril.

m.caninus

Inserts at CT of nostril. Flaring of nostrils

m.zygomaticus

Along zygomatic arch. Move lips, retracts corner of mouth

m.buccinator

Move food between teeth, can undulate with tongue

m.orbicularis oculi

Around eye, closes eyelid

muscles of Mastication

m. Masseter

Origin: Zygomatic arch

Insertion: Lateral mandible

Function: Closes mouth and major muscle of mastication

m.pterygoideus

Origin: Pterygoid bone

Insertion: Medial mandible

Function: Side-to-side movement of mouth

m. temporalis

Origin: Temporal fossa

Insertion: Coronoid process of the mandible

Function: Close mouth

m.digastricus

Origin: Caudal to temporomandibular joint

Insertion: Medial mandible

Function: Opens mouth

Muscles of tongue

m.mylohyoideus

Forms the floor of the oral cavity; located between the rami of the mandible.

Elevates floor of mouth and tongue

m.genioglossus

Protrudes tongue, from rostral mandible to base of tongue.