Together with the bones, the muscles are the support of the body. In our body, they are present everywhere, even on the head. What muscles exist? What is the main function of facial muscles ? Learn more about this later.
Human muscles
Depending on the method of determination, from 640 to 850 muscles are counted in the human body. With their help, we carry out most of the actions: we speak, breathe, walk, blink, etc. Muscles form the body and attach to the bones on both sides.
They consist of elastic fabric that can stretch and contract. Their movement provides a connection with the nerve endings and is carried out using nerve impulses. The work of muscles accompanies all physiological processes in the body.
In the body, they make up three large groups: skeletal, smooth and cardiac muscle. A person controls only skeletal muscles and can arbitrarily contract them. The remaining two groups are controlled by the autonomic nervous system , have a certain rhythm and are not dependent on our consciousness.
The main feature of muscles is the ability to fatigue. This happens due to a long and heavy load. However, if you do not use the muscles and train them, on the contrary they will become senile, weaken and poorly perform their functions.
Types of facial muscles
There are 57 muscles on the face. They are divided into chewing and facial expressions. Chewable are attached to the lower jaw and are responsible not only for chewing, but also for swallowing and speech. The group includes four muscles:
- chewing
- temporal,
- lateral
- medial pterygoid.
The facial muscles of a person are slightly different from the rest. They are thin and located in bundles near the eyes, nose, mouth and ears. They are attached to the skull bone only on one side. The other side connects to the skin tissue. This allows you to give greater mobility to areas of the face. Some of them depart not from the bone, but from the ligaments.
Most of the facial muscles are paired, with the exception of the cranial, nasal and circular muscles of the mouth. They are located at different levels and, depending on this, are divided into deep, superficial and medium. The deep ones, for example, include the chin, buccal, the middle - the square muscle of the lower lip and the canine, the surface are the circular muscles of the mouth, the zygomatic, square, etc.
What is the function of facial muscles?
The facial muscles play an important role in the social life of a person. Their contractions form certain facial expressions , changing the depth of the skin folds. So, others can distinguish and understand our emotions in communication. With their help, we express sadness, joy, hatred, smile and laugh.
The main function of the facial muscles is associated with the opening, narrowing and closing of the natural openings on the face. Depending on these actions, they are divided into muscle compressors and expanders. The first are placed above the body parts in a circle, the second radially depart from them.
Some muscles and their functions are presented in the table.
Region | Muscle | Function |
The area of the forehead and eyebrows, nose |
Muscle of the proud | Forms folds over the bridge of the nose |
Eyebrow wrinkler | Draws eyebrows to each other |
Nasal muscle | Slightly opens the wings of the nose |
Cranial | Raises eyebrows, forms horizontal folds on the forehead. |
Mouth area | Circular muscle of the mouth | Closes a mouth, pulls lips forward |
Muscle of the lower lip | Slightly opens, pulls the lower lip |
Upper lip muscle | Lifts upper lip |
Zygomatic | Pull the corners of the mouth up and to the sides |
Eye area | Circular muscle of the eye | Squinting, closing his eyes |
Ear area | Front | Pulls the auricle forward |
| Top | Pulls the sink up |
| Back | Pulls the sink back |
Facial muscle diseases
Disturbances in the work of muscles are manifested in the loss of their tone and ability to contract. Pathologies arise for various reasons, for example, due to trauma, infection, impaired humoral regulation and the functioning of the nervous system, and cellular changes.
Stretching, rupture, as well as various diseases, sometimes not directly related to their activity, can affect the work of muscles: heart attack, stroke, paralysis of facial muscles. The pathological condition is congenital, due to genetic abnormalities or mechanical damage during gestation.
It happens that the function of facial muscles is temporarily impaired. So, a nervous tick can have a temporary form. It can happen even in a healthy body. After a strong emotional load or a strong overstrain, individual muscles begin to contract quickly and spontaneously. At least once in a lifetime, a nervous tic occurs in every person.
Muscle paralysis
One of the most unpleasant diseases is facial paralysis, which is associated with damage to the facial nerve. The cause of its occurrence is trauma, tumors, inflammation. Paralysis also occurs with congenital abnormalities or nerve damage during surgery.
During this disease, the face becomes asymmetric, warps to the healthy side (in case of unilateral paralysis). The function of the facial muscles is impaired, they lose their tone and ability to fully close the jaw and eyes.
The disease is accompanied by pain in the ear, face, neck. Hypersensitivity to sounds and tearing are observed. The eye on the injured side rises above the healthy and is open stronger.
Gymnastics of the facial muscles
The muscles of the face are amenable to shaping and training, like any other. Daily gymnastics can improve blood circulation in them, increase their tone and elasticity. It is used to prevent wrinkles, skin aging, and helps restore muscle in pathologies.
There are hundreds of exercises for the face, aimed at its different areas. One of them is called "Surprise." It consists in the wide opening of the eyes and looking at one point, while wrinkling and straining the forehead is not worth it.
The cheeks and the circular muscle of the mouth exercise a broad smile with a closed mouth. Lips stretch as wide as possible, then relax. Repeat the exercise about 25 times. The cheeks also work great if they are inflated by drawing air into their mouths.