The lip muscle
Orbicularis oris · musculus orbicularis oris
The ring of muscle around your mouth that purses and closes your lips.
What it does
The orbicularis oris encircles the lips. It closes the mouth, purses the lips for a kiss or a whistle, and shapes many speech sounds. Many other face muscles blend into it, pulling the lips up, down and sideways for expressions.
Surprising fact
It is sometimes called the "kissing muscle", and it isn't a true ring but a complex weave of fibres from several neighbouring muscles.
Why it matters
Fine control of the lips is essential for clear speech, eating and drinking, which is why its weakness after a stroke makes dribbling and slurred words common.
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.