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Body Atlas, Muscle Reference

Muscles

Complete muscle reference, origins, insertions, nerve supply, actions, clinical notes, and common injuries.

63 muscles

63 muscles in Head & Skull Clear ×

Muscle Levator Labii Superioris Alaeque Nasi musculus levator labii superioris alaeque nasi Head & Skull The levator labii superioris alaeque nasi is one of the longest named muscles in the body,… Muscle Levator Palpebrae Superioris musculus levator palpebrae superioris Head & Skull The levator palpebrae superioris is the primary elevator of the upper eyelid, arising from the sphenoid… Muscle Levator Veli Palatini musculus levator veli palatini Head & Skull The levator veli palatini is the primary elevator of the soft palate, contracting to close the… Muscle Masseter musculus masseter Head & Skull The masseter is the most powerful jaw-closing muscle per unit cross-sectional area in the body, capable… Muscle Masseter (Full) musculus masseter Head & Skull The masseter is the most powerful jaw closing muscle, generating bite forces of 700-800 N at… Muscle Medial Pterygoid musculus pterygoideus medialis Head & Skull The medial pterygoid is a thick, quadrilateral muscle forming the medial sling of the temporomandibular joint… Muscle Medial Pterygoid musculus pterygoideus medialis Head & Skull The medial pterygoid forms the inner limb of the mandibular sling (with the masseter on the… Muscle Medial Rectus (Eye) musculus rectus medialis oculi Head & Skull The medial rectus is the primary adductor of the eye and the strongest extra-ocular muscle by… Muscle Mentalis musculus mentalis Head & Skull The mentalis is the primary muscle of chin expression, producing the characteristic cobblestone or dimpled chin… Muscle Mentalis musculus mentalis Head & Skull The mentalis elevates and protrudes the lower lip, producing the pout expression and chin wrinkling. Mentalis… Muscle Middle Pharyngeal Constrictor musculus constrictor pharyngis medius Head & Skull The middle pharyngeal constrictor forms the oropharyngeal muscular wall, with its fibres overlapping both the superior… Muscle Musculus Uvulae musculus uvulae Head & Skull The musculus uvulae is a paired muscle within the uvula that shortens and thickens it during… Muscle Mylohyoid (Full) musculus mylohyoideus Head & Skull The mylohyoid forms the muscular floor of the oral cavity, separating the sublingual space above from… Muscle Nasalis musculus nasalis Head & Skull The nasalis has two functionally opposite parts: the transverse compressor narrows the nasal aperture during forced… Muscle Occipitofrontalis musculus occipitofrontalis Head & Skull The occipitofrontalis is the complete epicranial muscle, consisting of the frontal belly (frontalis) anteriorly and the… Muscle Orbicularis Oculi musculus orbicularis oculi Head & Skull The orbicularis oculi is the sphincter muscle of the eyelid, forming an elliptical ring around the… Muscle Orbicularis Oris musculus orbicularis oris Head & Skull The orbicularis oris is a complex elliptical muscle surrounding the mouth, built from contributions of the… Muscle Orbicularis Oris (Full) musculus orbicularis oris Head & Skull The orbicularis oris is the lip sphincter, formed by interlacing fibres from the surrounding facial muscles… Muscle Palatoglossus musculus palatoglossus Head & Skull The palatoglossus forms the palatoglossal arch (anterior pillar of the fauces) and is the only tongue… Muscle Palatopharyngeus musculus palatopharyngeus Head & Skull The palatopharyngeus forms the palatopharyngeal arch (posterior pillar of the fauces) and connects the soft palate… Muscle Procerus musculus procerus Head & Skull The procerus is a small pyramidal muscle at the bridge of the nose that pulls the… Muscle Risorius musculus risorius Head & Skull The risorius is a variable and inconsistent muscle present in approximately 50 percent of people, pulling… Muscle Salpingopharyngeus musculus salpingopharyngeus Head & Skull The salpingopharyngeus is a small muscle arising from the pharyngeal end of the Eustachian tube (salpinx… Muscle Semispinalis Capitis (Full) musculus semispinalis capitis Head & Skull The semispinalis capitis is the largest and most superficial posterior cervical muscle, forming the bulk of…