MOINA of Facial Expressions

Question 1

Origin: lesser wing of sphenoid bone (anterior surface
Insertion: skin & fascia of upper eyelid
Nerve: Oculomotor (CN III)
Action: elevates upper eyelids

Answer 1

Levator Palpebrae Superioris

Question 2

Origin: maxilla & mandible (posterior alveolar process of both bones)
Insertion: modiolus (lateral to angle of mouth)
Nerve: Facial Nerve (CN VII)
Action: compresses cheeks

Answer 2

Buccinator

Question 3

Origin: facial bone above nose (lateral to glabella)
Insertion: medial portion of eyebrows
Nerve: Facial Nerve (CN VII)
Action: depresses eyebrows downward & medially; “thinker’s brow”

Answer 3

Corrugator Supercilli

Question 4

Origin: oblique line of mandible; lateral aspect of mental tubercle of mandible
Insertion: modiolus (near angle of mouth)
Nerve: Facial Nerve (CN VII)
Action: depresses mouth (frown)

Answer 4

Depressor Anguli Oris

Question 5

Origin: mandible (between symphysis & mental foramen
Insertion: skin & fascia of lower lip
Nerve: Facial Nerve (CN VII)
Action: lower lip downward & laterally; everts lower lip

Answer 5

Depressor Labii Inferioris

Question 6

Origin: incisive fossa of maxilla
Insertion: septum & alar cartilage of nose
Nerve: Facial Nerve (CN VII)
Action: constricts nostrils

Answer 6

Depressor Septi Nasi

Question 7

Origin: galea aponeurotica
Insertion: skin & fascia above nose & eyes
Nerve: Facial Nerve (CN VII)
Action: draws scalp posteriorly; raises eyebrows (surprise)

Answer 7

Frontalis

Question 8

Origin: below infraorbital foramen of maxilla
Insertion: modiolus (near angle of mouth)
Nerve: Facial Nerve (CN VII)
Action: elevates angle of mouth; smile

Answer 8

Levator Anguli Oris

Question 9

Origin: medial to infraorbital foramen of maxilla
Insertion: upper lip muscles
Nerve: Facial Nerve (CN VII)
Action: elevates & everts upper lip

Answer 9

Levator Labii Superioris

Question 10

Origin: frontal process of maxilla
Insertion: lateral slip: upper lip muscles; medial slip: alar cartilage of nose
Nerve: Facial Nerve (CN VII)
Action: elevates & everts upper lip; constricts nostrils

Answer 10

Levator Labii Superioris Alaeque Nasi

Question 11

Origin: incisive fossa of mandible
Insertion: skin & fascia of chin
Nerve: Facial Nerve (CN VII)
Action: elevates & everts lower lip; wrinkles chin

Answer 11

Mentalis

Question 12

Origin: transverse part: maxilla (lateral to nose); alar part: maxilla, superior to canine alveolar process
Insertion: transverse part: opposite side nasalise over upper cartilage of nose; alar part: alar cartilage of nose (nasal wing)
Nerve: Facial Nerve (CN VII)
Action: flares nostrils (forced respiration)

Answer 12

Nasalis

Question 13

Origin: lateral ⅔ of superior nuchal line & external mandibular protuberance
Insertion: galea aponeurotica
Nerve: Facial Nerve (CN VII)
Action: draws scalp posteriorly; raises eyebrows (surprise)

Answer 13

Occipitalis

Question 14

Origin: orbital portion: nasal process of frontal bone; palpebral portion: palpebral ligament; lacrimal portion: lacrimal crest of lacrimal bone
Insertion: circumferentially around orbit meeting at the origin
Nerve: Facial Nerve (CN VII)
Action: close eye tightly; squinting of eyes; depresses upper eyelid; elevates lower eyelid (palpebral part)

Answer 14

Orbicularis Oculi

Question 15

Origin: modiolus (lateral to angle of mouth)
Insertion: circumferentially around mouth; blends with other muscles
Nerve: Facial Nerve (CN VII)
Action: closes mouth; protrudes lips (puckering of lips)

Answer 15

Orbicularis Oris

Question 16

Origin: subcutaneous fascia (deltoid-pectoral region)
Insertion: mandible & subcutaneous fascia of lower face
Nerve: Facial Nerve (CN VII)
Action: tenses skin over lower neck (creates ridge in skin); depress mandible & lower lip

Answer 16

Platysma

Question 17

Origin: nasal bone & cartilages
Insertion: skin & fascia between eyebrows
Nerve: Facial Nerve (CN VII)
Action: medial eyebrow downward (menacing expression); wrinkles skin of superior nose

Answer 17

Procerus

Question 18

Origin: parotid fascia (superficial to masseter)
Insertion: modiolus (near angle of mouth)
Nerve: Facial Nerve (CN VII)
Action: draws angle of mouth laterally (false smile)

Answer 18

Risorius

Question 19

Origin: zygomatic bone (anterior to zygomatic-temporal suture)
Insertion: modiolus (near angle of mouth)
Nerve: Facial Nerve (CN VII)
Action: elevates angle of mouth (smiling); pulls angle of mouth laterally

Answer 19

Zygomaticus Major

Question 20

Origin: zygomatic bone (posterior to zygomaticomaxillary suture)
Insertion: skin, fascia, & muscles of upper lip
Nerve: Facial Nerve (CN VII)
Action: elevates, everts upper lip (smile)

Answer 20

Zygomaticus Minor

Question 21

Origin: zygomatic arch of temporalis
Insertion: angle of mandible
Nerve: Trigeminal Nerve (V3); Mandibular Branch
Action: closes (elevates) the jaw

Answer 21

Masseter

Question 22

Origin: medial surface of lateral pterygoid plate
Insertion: medial aspect of the angle of mandible
Nerve: Trigeminal Nerve (V3); Mandibular Branch
Action: closes/elevates jaw

Answer 22

Medial/Internal Pterygoid

Question 23

Origin: temporal fossa of temporalis and sphenoid
Insertion: coronoid process of mandible
Nerve: Trigeminal Nerve (V3); Mandibular Branch
Action: anterior fibers: closes (elevates) jaw, middle + posterior fibers: retract mandible (open jaw)

Answer 23

Temporalis

Question 24

Origin: superior head: greater wing of sphenoid; inferior head: lateral pterygoid plate
Insertion: joint capsule of condylar process
Nerve: Trigeminal Nerve (V3); Mandibular Branch
Action: protrusion of the jaw; only muscle of the masticators to protrude the jaw

Answer 24

Lateral/External Pterygoid