Zygomaticus major muscle
Encyclopedia
The Zygomatic major is a muscle
of the human body
. It is a muscle of facial expression which draws the angle of the mouth superiorly and posteriorly (smile
). Like all muscles of facial expression, the zygomatic major is innervated by the facial nerve
(Cranial Nerve VII). More specifically the buccal and zygomatic branches of the facial nerve.
The Zygomaticus extends from each zygomatic arch (cheekbone) to the corners of the mouth. It raises the corners of the mouth when a person smiles. Dimple
s may be caused by variations in the structure of this muscle.
Muscle
Muscle is a contractile tissue of animals and is derived from the mesodermal layer of embryonic germ cells. Muscle cells contain contractile filaments that move past each other and change the size of the cell. They are classified as skeletal, cardiac, or smooth muscles. Their function is to...
of the human body
Human body
The human body is the entire structure of a human organism, and consists of a head, neck, torso, two arms and two legs.By the time the human reaches adulthood, the body consists of close to 100 trillion cells, the basic unit of life...
. It is a muscle of facial expression which draws the angle of the mouth superiorly and posteriorly (smile
Smile
A smile is a facial expression formed by flexing the muscles near both ends of the mouth. The smile can also be found around the eyes . Among humans, it is an expression denoting pleasure, joy, happiness, or amusement, but can also be an involuntary expression of anxiety, in which case it is known...
). Like all muscles of facial expression, the zygomatic major is innervated by the facial nerve
Facial nerve
The facial nerve is the seventh of twelve paired cranial nerves. It emerges from the brainstem between the pons and the medulla, and controls the muscles of facial expression, and functions in the conveyance of taste sensations from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue and oral cavity...
(Cranial Nerve VII). More specifically the buccal and zygomatic branches of the facial nerve.
The Zygomaticus extends from each zygomatic arch (cheekbone) to the corners of the mouth. It raises the corners of the mouth when a person smiles. Dimple
Dimple
A dimple is a small natural indentation in the flesh on a part of the human body, most notably in the cheek or on the chin.-More about dimples:...
s may be caused by variations in the structure of this muscle.