Zygomaticus minor muscle
Table of Contents
Zygomaticus Minor Muscle Anatomy
The zygomaticus minor is a muscle of facial expression. It originates from zygomatic bone and continues with orbicularis oculi on the lateral face of the levator labii superioris and then inserts into the outer part of the upper lip. Like all muscles of facial expression, it is innervated by the facial nerve (CN VII).
Origin
The zygomaticus minor originates from the lateral surface of the zygomatic bone. Its origin site is located immediately behind the zygomaticomaxillary structure.
Insertion
The zygomaticus minor inserts into the skin of the lateral part of the upper lip and extends to the nasolabial sulcus.
Nerve supply
Zygomaticus and buccal branch of the facial nerve supplies zygomaticus minor.
Blood supply
Facial artery supplies to the zygomaticus muscle.
Zygomaticus minor muscle Action
Upon activation, the zygomaticus minor pulls the upper lip backward, upward and outward, and also aids in deepening and elevating the nasolabial sulcus.
Related pathology
In Bell’s palsy zygomaticus minor muscle paralysis.
Zygomaticus minor muscle Strengthening exercise
Muscle retraining exercises can be grouped as Smile exercises, Facelift exercises, Lip exercises and exercises to strengthen the mandibular shapes.
Smile exercise
- Have the face and lips in repose and the mind psycho logically positive to slightly increase the contraction of the elevators
- Begin to smile; stretch the corners of the mouth laterally keeping the lips in slight contact and maintain this position for 10s
- Expand the smile slightly laterally and upward to expose the edges of the teeth, control the parallelism of the corners of the mouth and maintain this position for 10s.
- Increase the muscle tension, displaying a larger number and amount of teeth and exhibiting a lateral expansion of the cheeks and observe that the relaxed lower part of the orbicularis oris follows the retraction and elevation of the corners of the mouth to cover the mandibular teeth. Keep this position for 10s
- Give full tension to the muscles predominantly laterally, paying attention not to expose gingival tissue with the exception of the interdental papilla. Keep this position for 10s.
- Slowly relax and maintain one half of the teeth visibility. Maintain this position for 10s.
- Continue relaxing, just keeping the edges of the maxillary anterior teeth visible and maintain for 10s.
- Go back to the initial position maintaining a slight tension of the elevators for 10s. Relax.
- Form a full smile and maintain this smile with finger pressure at each corner
- Close the smile halfway with a finger resisting the pull and hold pressure for 10s.
- Try to close the smile completely with a finger resisting, having the lips trying to make contact in the middle part and maintain for 10s. Relax.
- Reverse this exercise and place the fingers laterally at the corners of the mouth, slightly resisting muscle pull.
- Maintain the pressure and try to expand the smile laterally and maintain for 10s
- Expand the smile, reducing finger pressure.
- Relax.
FAQs
Zygomaticus minor raises the upper lip during the range of its motions, revealing the maxillary teeth. This movement serves to enable different facial expressions, such as smiling, as well as to facilitate communication.
A face expression muscle is the zygomaticus minor. It starts at the malar bone and continues with the orbicularis oculi on the lateral aspect of the Levator labii superioris before inserting into the upper lip’s outer portion.
A face expression muscle is the zygomaticus minor. It starts from the zygomatic bone and inserts into the outside portion of the top lip laterally to the other levator labii superioris muscles. It is used to smile by pulling the upper lip back, up, and outward.
The ZMi, a facial expression muscle, is utilized to smile by lifting and extending the upper lip.
The levator labii superioris, orbicularis oris, and zygomaticus minor muscles all insert into the skin and muscles of the lateral portion of the top lip.
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