Table of the Muscles of Facial Expression
MUSCLE
Brow/Forehead
Frontal Region
Frontalis
ACTION
Compiled by Ellenwood Studios
Raises eyebrows, wrinkles
forehead of skin
Eye brows
Frontal and Glabellar regions
ACTION
Corrugator Supercilii
Draw eyebrows downward
and together towards the
midline of the nose (creates
vertical wrinkles on the nose
bridge) ‘knitting’ the brows
Pulls the medial portion of
the eyebrows (and the skin
of the glabellar region)
downward to produce
horizontal/transverse
wrinkles over the nose/nasal
root. (It also may help flare
the nostrils)
Draw down the eyebrows,
along with the Procerus, the
horizontal wrinkle at the
bridge of the nose
Procerus
a.k.a. Pyramidalis nasi a.k.a.
Depressor glabellae
(technically considered a nasal
muscle)
Depressor Supercilii
(Technically considered an eye
muscle. Debate on whether it is a
distinct muscle, or part of the
Orbicularis oculi)
ACTION
UNIT
(AU)
ORIGIN
INSERTION
INVERVATION
Cranial Nerve
(CN)
AU 1
AU 2
AU1+2
Galea aponeurotica
Skin of nose and
eyebrows
CN VII (Facial
Nerve)
ACTION
UNIT
(AU)
AU 4
AU 44
ORIGIN
(Orbicularis Oculi M,
Procerus M)
INSERTION
INVERVATION
Superciliary arch
Skin of eyebrow
Temporal
branch of
CN VII
See AU4
above
Nasal bone
Lower medial
forehead
Temporal
branch of CN
VII
See AU4
above
Laterals of the Nasal
bridge
Flares our across the
intercantal region,
Frontalis muscle, and
under the skin about
level with the
eyebrows
CN VII
1
Eyes
Orbital, Infraorbital, and
Zygomatic regions
Levator Palpebrae Superioris
ACTION
Retracts/Elevates upper
eyelid
ACTION
UNIT
(AU)
AU 5
AU 41,
AU 43,
and AU
45
ORIGIN
INSERTION
INVERVATION
Sphenoid bone
Superior Tarsal plate
and skin of upper
eyelid
CN III
(Oculomotor
nerve)
(relaxation
of the
Levator
Palpebrae
Superioris)
Superior Tarsal Muscle
Helps keep the upper eyelid
raised after the Levator
Palpebrae Superioris has
raised it
AU 5
Underside of Levator
Palpebrae superioris
Superior Tarsal plate
and skin of upper
eyelid
CN III
(Oculomotor
nerve)
Orbicularis Oculi
3 parts
Blinking-rapid & low level
(AU45)
Squinting-medium level;
(AU44)
Forceful closing of eyelidsHigh level (AU43)
AU 6
AU 7
AU 41,
AU 43,
AU 45,
AU 46
AU 47
Frontal, Lacrimal, and
and maxillary bones,
and the Medial
Palperbral ligament
Skin of eyelid, lateral
palpebral raphe at
the outer canthus
(corner of the eye)
CN VII
ACTION
UNIT
(AU)
AU9
ORIGIN
INSERTION
INVERVATION
Upper frontal
process of maxilla
Skin of lateral nostril
and upper lip
Buccal branch
of CN VII
*Pars Orbitalis (see AU6)
*Pars Palpebralis (See AU7)
*Pars Lacrimalis (tear pump into
lacrimal sac)
Nose
Nasal region
ACTION
Levator labii superioris alaeque
nasi (L.L. S.A.N.) a.k.a Alaeque
Nasi
Dilates nostril and elevates
upper lip and Ala (wing) of
the nose
‘snarl’
(higher
levels of
intensity)
2
“Lifter of both the upper lip and
the wing of the nose”
Nasalis
*Pars Transversa/Compressor
Naris. See AU38
*Pars Alaris/Dilator Naris (has
both Anterior and Posterior
parts) See AU 39
Depressor Septi Nasi
Compressor Narium Minor
(This muscle is seen in just over
half of the population)
Mouth
Oral, Buccal, Parotid-Masseter,
and Mental regions
Levator labii superioris
Do not confuse with Levator labii
superioris alaeque nasi (L.L.
S.A.N.)
Orbicularis Oris
Maxilla
Transverse part- compress
nares (nostrils), in some
people completely closed.
AU 39
Alar part- Dilates and holds
open the nares (nostrils)
AU38
Depression of the Nasal
Septum shortening the
Columella (the tissue
connecting the nasal tip to
the nasal base). Pulls nose
inferiorly, opening the nares
Decreases the nasal
aperture
AU 38
Maxilla
Alar part- alar
cartilage of nasal
skeleton
Nasal septum
AU 39
Front of the Alar
Cartilage
Skin near the margins CN VII
of the Nares (nostrils)
ACTION
ACTION
UNIT
(AU)
AU 10
ORIGIN
INSERTION
INVERVATION
Medial inferior
orbital margin
Mid-lateral skin and
muscle of upper lip
Buccal branch
of CN VII
AU 8
AU 18
AU 22
AU 23
AU 24
AU 25
AU 28
AU 34
Maxilla and Mandible
Skin and mucous
membranes of lips
CN VII
Elevates and everts upper
lip
Pursing, kissing, puckering,
and pressing the lips against
the teeth. Closing the
mouth.
Transverse part- to
aponeurosis across
dorsum of nose
CN VII
CN VII
3
Zygomaticus major
Elevates and draws angle of
mouth upward, outward,
and backward when smiling
or laughing.
Variations of Zygomaticus
Major may cause cheek
dimples.
Pulls the middle section of
the Nasolabial Furrow and
middle portion of the upper
lip outward and slightly
upward.
AU 12
Anterior surface of
zygomatic bone
Modiolus at angle of
mouth
Buccal branch
of CN VII
AU 11
Lateral infra-orbital
margin/Zygomatic
bone
Buccal branch
of CN VII
Levator Anguli Oris
Pulls the angle of the mouth
straight up, and curves the
mouth line upwards at the
ends. ‘Mona Lisa smile’
Also stretches the lips.
AU 13
Canine Fossa of the
Maxilla
Risorius
Pulls the angle/modiolus* of
the mouth backward and
outward. To perform this
action with more intensity
requires the modiolar
portion of the Platysma.
(point at the corner of the
mouth where 8 muscles
meet)
AU 20
Deep fascia of face
and parotid
Skin and muscle of
upper lip (multiple
insertion points 1Nasolabial furrow, 2Malar Fat pad mf.,
3the superior fibers
of the orbicularis
oris, 4 the majority of
the fibers terminate
at the lateral
vermillion border of
the upper lip)
Modiolus at the
angle of the mouth,
intermingling with
the fibers of the
Zygomaticus Major,
the Depressor Anguli,
and the Orbicularis
Oris.
Modiolus and skin at
angle of the mouth
Zygomaticus minor
Buccal branch
of Cranial
Nerve VII
Buccal branch
of Cranial
Nerve VII
4
Buccinator
Mentalis
Depressor labii inferioris
Depressor anguli oris (a.k.a.
Triangularis)
Muscles of Mastication
Muscles which clench the jaw,
and open the jaw
Masseter
Temporalis
Pulls cheek inward against
the teeth. Blowing, sucking,
and assisting in mastication
(chewing)
Elevates and wrinkles skin of
chin.
With help from Orbicularis
Oris the two raise and
protruding the lower lip,
“pouting.”
Depresses and lowers lip
laterally and downward.
AU 14
AU 33
AU 34
Alveolar process of
Maxilla and Mandible
Skin of lips
(Orbicularis Oris)
Buccal branch
of Cranial
Nerve VII
AU 17
AU 25
Incisive fossa on
anterior fossa aspect
of mandible
Skin of chin
Mandibular
branch of
Cranial Nerve
VII
AU 16
Outer surface of
mandible along
oblique line
Skin of the medial
portion of the lower
lip.
Depresses and draws angle
of mouth laterally.
“frowning”
The posterior fibers of the
Platysma may assist this
action.
ACTION
AU 15
Lateral (outer)
surface of mandible
posterior to oblique
line
Modiolus at angle of
mouth
Mandibular
branch of
Cranial Nerve
VII
Mandibular
branch of
Cranial Nerve
VII
ACTION
UNIT
(AU)
AU 31
ORIGIN
INSERTION
INVERVATION
Superficial headZygomatic arch and
the Zygomatic bone
Deep head-Posterior
third of the lower
border from the
whole of the medial
surface of the
Zygomatic Arch
Temporal fossa
Superficial headAngle of the
mandible
Deep head-upper
half of the ramus as
high as the coronoid
process of the
mandible
Cranial Nerve V
the Trigeminal
Nerve,
mandibular
branch (V3)
Elevates the mandible
(closes the jaw/mouth), and
it one of the strongest
muscles in the body for
chewing, biting.
Elevates (and retracts) the
mandible (closes the
jaw/mouth)
AU 31
Coronoid Process and Cranial Nerve V
anterior edge and
the Trigeminal
medial surface if the
Nerve,
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Pterygoids
*Medial Pterygoid (Pm)
*Lateral Pterygoid Pl
Digastric
Pm Elevates the mandible
Pl Superior Head-Controls
and stabilizes the Articular
disk during mastication
clenching, protrusive,
retrusive, and open/close
jaw movements.
Pl Inferior head-depresses
and protracts the mandible
to open the mouth.
Both heads of the Lateral
Pterygoid pull down and
forward at the condyle
processes during the
opening of the mouth.
Elevates the hyoid bone.
When the Infrahyoid
muscles are holding the
hyoid in place, the digastric
will tend to depress the
mandible and open the
mouth.
AU31
AU27
(Pm) Deep headfrom above the
medial surface of the
lateral Pterygoid
Plate.
(Pm) Superficial
head- Maxillary
Tuberosity and
Pyramidal Process of
the Palatine bone
(Pl) Superior headInfratemporal
surface of the
Sphenoid bone.
(PI) Inferior headLateral surface of
Pterygoid plate
AU27
Anterior belly (Ab)digastric fossa of the
mandible.
Posterior belly (Pb)mastoid notch of the
temporal bone
ramus or the
mandible
(Pm) Lower and back
part of the medial
surface of the Ramus
and Angle of the
Mandible. Joins the
Masseter to form a
common Tendinous
Sling.
(Pl) Superior headCapsule and Articular
disk of the
Temporomandibular
joint and the Condyle
process of the
mandible.
(Pl) Inferior headOterygoid Fovea
below the condyle
process of the
mandible.
Both converge at the
intermediate tendon,
which supports the
hyoid bone.
mandibular
branch (V3)
Cranial Nerve V
the Trigeminal
Nerve,
mandibular
branch (V3)
(Ab) Cranial
Muscle V the
Trigeminal
Nerve,
Mylohyoid/Infe
rior alveolar
nerve (V3)
(Pb) Cranial
Nerve VII Facial
Nerve
(Digastric
branch)
6
Neck
ACTION
Platysma
Depresses mandible, draws
angle of mouth (and lower
lip) laterally (sideways) and
downward. Intense tonus
tightens skin of neck.
ACTION
UNIT
(AU)
AU21
ORIGIN
INSERTION
Pectoralis and deltoid Lower border of the
fascia
mandible, mouth,
chin skin and muscle
INVERVATION
Cranial Nerve
VII
Sources:
Facial Action Coding System (developed by Carl-Herman Hjortsjö and elaborated on) by Paul Ekman, Wallace V. Friesen, and Joseph C. Hager,
published by Research Nexus division of Network Information Research Corporation, Salt Lake City, Utah. 2002.
Anatomy of Facial Expression by Uldis Zarins with Sandis Kondrats, published by Exonicus, Inc (2017)
Face the FACS: Facial Expressions in Art, Science, and Technology website of Melinda Ozel.
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