Artistic Anatomy Part 5: Mouth Muscles II

The "middle" section of the mouth muscles:

Caninus (Levator anguli oris)

Origin above canine tooth

origin: canine fossa
insertion: orbicularis oris; skin at corner of mouth
action: pulls corner of mouth upward; together raises lower lip

Zygomaticus major

Origin on zygomatic bone

origin: zygomatic bone in front of suture
insertion: orbicularis oris; skin at corner of mouth
action: pulls corner of mouth upward and outward

Buccinator

L. bucca—cheek

origin: alveolar processes of mandible
insertion: orbicularis oris; skin of the lips
action: pulls corner of mouth outward; compresses lips and cheeks

Orbicularis oris

L. orbicular—small disc + oris—of mouth

origin: fibers from the caninus, zygomaticus major and buccinator
insertion: lip-rim skin
action: closes and protrudes the mouth

Next: the muscles below the mouth.