Basics of anatomy

Facial muscles

We have 57 muscles in our face and neck.

We divide facial muscles into 6 groups plus neck muscles, which make up our 7th muscle group.

The external facial muscles are referred to as facial muscles.

Although we will be most interested in facial and facial muscles, let's talk about the other groups as well.

• Ocular muscles: oculomotor, move the eyeball and eyelids
• Masticatory muscles: have the function of lower jaw movement, chewing and other movements
• Mimic muscles - have the function of expressing our face, among other things
• Neck muscles

Masticatory muscles

External masticatory muscle (musculus masseter): the function of the muscle is the elevation of the mandible - closing the mouth

Temporal muscle (musculus temporalis): the function of the muscle is the elevation of the mandible - closing the mouth

Internal pterygoid muscle (musculus pterygoideus medialis): the function of the muscle is to help the external masticatory muscle to close the mouth, it pulls the mandible to the side (if only one of the pair of muscles is involved) - chewing movements

External wing muscle (musculus pterygoideus lateralis): the function of the muscle is to open the mouth, pulls the mandible forward, pulls the mandible to the side (if only one of the pair of muscles is involved) - chewing movements

Mimic muscles

Occipital muscle: starts at the scale of the occipital bone and smoothes the wrinkles on the forehead

Forehead: frontal muscle (musculus frontalis): the function of the muscle is to raise the eyebrows, wrinkles the forehead, pulls the eyebrows up. Forms transverse wrinkles on the forehead.

Eyes: circular eye muscle (musculus orbicularis oculi) - the function of the muscle is to squeeze and blink the eyelids, closes the eye slit (sphincter), forms the base of the eyelids.

Mouth: the circular muscle of the mouth (musculus orbicularis oris): has the function of lip movements, such as pursed or curled lips and also the movement of the nasal wings.

Faces:

Cheek muscle - trumpeter (musculus buccinator), forms the base of the face, pushes the face to the gums, enables, for example, blowing.

Large and small cheek muscle (musculus risorius): it is called the laughing muscle. pulls the corners of the mouth to the sides - smile and raises the corners of the mouth.

Lower jaw and chin: chin muscle

Neck: We must not forget the muscles of the neck, which we will also train and which are no less important. They make up our 7-dma muscle group.

Loose facial muscles result in sagging skin and facial features including the formation of wrinkles.

The structure of the facial muscles is the same as that of other voluntary muscles.

The facial and cranial bones are the basis for the face, its shape and appearance.

These include: frontal bone, cheekbones, nasal bones, upper and lower jaw, which is the only movable part of the face and is connected to the skull by jaw joints.

The shape of our face is determined by the bones, but the muscles are the most important.

Facial nerve: all facial muscles are controlled by the facial nerve, which belongs to the cranial nerves, originates from the brain and activates the left and right sides of the face, and further branches to all facial muscles.

Facial gymnastics works not only on the level of rejuvenation, but can also be therapeutic. It has a beneficial effect on facial paralysis, is used in the treatment of tension headaches, in the rehabilitation of Bell's palsy (failure of facial nerve function after trauma).

During the training of the facial muscles, the muscles are strengthened, the skin is tightened, strengthened, the contours of the face are drawn and a younger appearance is achieved.

Our muscles are constantly exposed to external influences such as diet, lack of sleep, stress, age, weather conditions, gravity, and these influences can negatively affect our muscles and facial skin. The quality of the skin of the face and neck is the main indicator of age.

Another fact is that with increasing age, the quality of the skin deteriorates, the muscles sag, and if we want our face and skin to look youthful and healthy, it needs to be strengthened regularly.

Facial muscles can be strengthened, like any other muscles of the body, by regular exercise.

All the muscles on the face are interconnected and attach directly to the skin, making them unique.

By withdrawing them, the facial expression changes.

And that is the fundamental moment! When we strengthen and stretch the facial muscles, the skin automatically turns off and a younger appearance occurs. This is a big difference from the muscles of our body. The muscles on the body are not attached to the skin, but to the joints, which is why after weight reduction, especially in old age, the skin on the body is saggy even when you exercise.

Therefore, if we want to positively influence the muscles around the eyes, for example, it is good to strengthen not only the eye muscle, but also its surroundings: the forehead, the under-orbital arches and the cheek area. Muscles are interconnected and subsequently strengthen each other. As soon as we strengthen one of them, we automatically affect the other muscles in the face and vice versa.

Without care and strengthening, they sag, the skin sags and permanent expression lines form. Many years of bad habits shorten the length of facial muscles, and wrinkles begin to appear on the skin that covers the shortened muscles.

Did you know that if we activate the body in the same way as the face, we will not be able to walk?