The muscles of expression
Muscles of facial expression
A group of small muscles under the skin of your face that let you show every emotion.
What it does
Unlike most muscles, the muscles of facial expression attach to the skin rather than just to bone. Small muscles lift and lower the lips, flare the nostrils, furrow the brow and wrinkle the nose. All of them are controlled by the facial nerve.
Surprising fact
The basic expressions of emotions such as happiness, fear and disgust are recognised across very different cultures, suggesting they are shared by people everywhere.
Why it matters
When the facial nerve is damaged, as in Bell's palsy, one side of the face droops. Most people recover over weeks to months.
Nearby
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Sources
Drafted with AI help; awaiting a human fact-check against these sources.
Open in the 3D atlas · Suggest a correction · Not medical advice.
3D models: Z-Anatomy & BodyParts3D (CC BY-SA 4.0 / 2.1 JP). Card text CC BY 4.0.