Levator anguli oris muscle
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View Daniel J Bell's current disclosures- Levator anguli oris muscles
- Caninus muscle
- Caninus muscles
- Musculus caninus
- Musculus triangularis labii superioris
- Triangularis labii superioris
The levator anguli oris muscle, also known as caninus or triangularis labii superioris muscles, is a buccolabial muscle, a subdivision of the facial muscles.
On this page:
Gross anatomy
Summary
- origin: canine fossa of the maxilla
- insertion: modiolus and merges with depressor anguli oris muscle
- innervation: facial nerve (VII)
- action: lifting the lips, opening mouth, smiling
Gross anatomy
Origin
The levator anguli oris muscle originates from the canine fossa of the maxilla, approximately 1 cm inferior to the infraorbital foramen and passes inferiorly, deep to the overlying levator labii superioris muscle. The infraorbital nerve runs between these two muscles.
Insertion
The descending deep muscle fibers insert into the common mimetic muscles' insertion site of the modiolus at the commissure of the mouth. From here, muscle fibers become more superficial and conflate caudally into those of the depressor anguli oris muscle.
Arterial supply
- small branches from the facial, labial, infraorbital arteries
Venous drainage
Innervation
- terminal buccal branches of the facial nerve (VII)
Action
- medially pulls the angle of the mouth upwards
- it contributes to widening of the mouth
- supports the zygomaticus major muscle in producing a smile 3
Radiographic features
In an MRI study of 15 research subjects, the levator anguli oris muscle could not be identified with confidence in any of the participants 4.
References
- 1. Chummy S. Sinnatamby. Last's Anatomy. (2011) ISBN: 9780702033940
- 2. Ewart C, Jaworski N, Rekito A, Gamboa M. Levator Anguli Oris: A Cadaver Study Implicating Its Role in Perioral Rejuvenation. Ann Plast Surg. 2005;54(3):260-3; discussion 263. PMID 15725827
- 3. Gray, H. Anatomy of the Human Body. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger, 1918; Bartleby.com, 2000. www.bartleby.com/107/
- 4. Penn J, James A, Khatib M et al. Development and Validation of a Computerized Model of Smiling: Modeling the Percentage Movement Required for Perception of Smiling in Unilateral Facial Nerve Palsy. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2013;66(3):345-51. doi:10.1016/j.bjps.2012.10.016
- 5. Volk G, Karamyan I, Klingner C, Reichenbach J, Guntinas-Lichius O. Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging Volumetry of Facial Muscles in Healthy Patients with Facial Palsy. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2014;2(6):e173. doi:10.1097/GOX.0000000000000128
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