Your Face and Neck contain around 68 Muscles.

Also known as the craniofacial muscles, facial muscles lie underneath the skin of the face and stretch across the skull. Humans have 42 individual facial muscles, many of which actively work to form expressions. Of all the facial muscles, 20 are considered flat skeletal muscles.

Every facial muscle belongs to a different category.

These are the oral group, nasal group, orbital group, auricular group (external ear) and the cranium muscles.

Like the rest of your body, your facial muscles need exercise to remain in their best shape. Our facial techniques improve skin texture, delay the natural ageing process, and even alter the shape of the face. Stronger muscles mean better elasticity and a regular exercise routine could do wonders for all 42.

The muscles of the face and their functions:

Each muscle in your face serves a specific purpose and works alongside other muscles to allow your face to move.

The functions of the main muscles in your face are:

Orbicularis Oris: This muscle surrounds your mouth and makes up most of your lips. The orbicularis oris has two parts and helps move the lips.

Buccinator muscle: The buccinator muscle consists of three parts. It compresses your cheeks against your molars to prevent biting yourself while chewing.

Levator labii superioris alaeque nasi muscle: This muscle is on both sides of your nose. It helps elevate your upper lip and turn it outward.

Mentalis: Found in your chin, the mentalis depresses your lower lip and turns it outward. This muscle helps shape the lips for drinking and conveying emotions such as sadness.

Risorius: Considered the smiling muscle, its primary function is to pull the corners of your mouth upward to form a smile.

Levator anguli oris: This slender muscle also contributes to producing a smile.

Depressor anguli oris: This muscle pulls the corners of your mouth downward to express sadness and anger. It also aids in opening your mouth.

Nasalis: The nasalis muscle compresses and opens your nostrils when deep breathing. It’s also used when expressing anger.

Procerus muscle: The procerus is located between your eyebrows and pulls your eyebrows downwards. As a result, wrinkles form above the nose to convey anger or sorrow.

Orbicularis oculi: This muscle pulls the skin of your forehead and cheeks toward the nose. It also helps with the closing of your eyes. Corrugator supercilii: This muscle works to draw your eyebrows together to produce an angry expression.

Occipitofrontalis muscle: This broad muscle sits on your scalp. It consists of two parts: one that pulls the scalp forward when frowning and one that retracts it.

Auricular muscles: -Create movement in the ears when smiling, talking, or yawning.

How many muscles are in the neck?

The neck muscles move the head, neck, and shoulders. There are 26 muscles in the neck. They are categorised into anterior, lateral, or posterior groups, determined by the position of the muscle on the neck.

The muscles of the neck work with other essential structures from the chest to the head. This region contains many important blood vessels and nerves.

A strong neck helps with balance and movement, especially during workouts. When out of use, neck muscles may also weaken, which can cause additional stress on the spine. If you experience pain and discomfort in your neck, you may be relieved to learn that a regime of neck, shoulder, and back exercises or infrared massage could relieve you.

The muscles of the neck and their functions

Each muscle in your neck plays a different role but works alongside other muscles for proper functioning. Here are some of the central neck muscles and what they do:

Sternocleidomastoid: This muscle helps your head turn in both directions and brings your head towards your chest.

Platysma: This muscle is mainly found in your neck but can assist other facial muscles. It helps pull the corners of your mouth down to form expressions.

Digastric: The digastric is a small muscle that closes the epiglottis to prevent you from inhaling food when swallowing.

Mylohyoid: The mylohyoid elevates the hyoid bone and the floor of your mouth. It also helps to open your mouth.

Geniohyoid: The geniohyoid is a short muscle that assists in voice production. It, like the mylohyoid, aids in opening your mouth.

Stylohyoid: This thin muscle retracts your tongue and pushes food toward the soft palate.

Scalene muscles: The function of the scalene muscles is primarily to help you inhale. They also help with bending or the condition of being bent, especially "flexion at the neck.

Trapezius: This large, flat muscle assists in rotating your head back and forth. It also stabilises and moves your shoulder blades.

The splenius muscles: The splenius muscles extend the head and help with sideways movements and rotation.

Rectus capitis posterior major: This muscle helps you maintain posture and move your head sideways.

Rectus capitis posterior minor: This muscle extends and rotates your head. Like the rectus capitis posterior major, it also assists in maintaining your posture.

Interspinales cervical muscles: The interspinal cervical muscles aid in the extension of your neck.

A final note on face and neck muscles:

Your face and neck contain around 68 muscles, and although many have similar functions, they all work together to help you live, look, and feel well. We don’t think about these essential muscles until something goes wrong, but we must be aware of the delicate balance of our facial and neck functions to prevent damage through neglect.

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