Quick Facts
Origin: Zygomatic bone.
Insertion: Angle of mouth.
Action: Elevates angle of mouth.
Innervation: Zygomatic and buccal branches of facial nerve (CN VII).
Arterial Supply: Superior labial artery.
Origin
The zygomaticus major muscle originates from the zygomatic bone at the zygomaticotemporal suture.
Insertion
The fibers of the zygomaticus major muscle blend with the levator anguli oris and the orbicularis oris muscle at the corner of the mouth.
Key Features & Anatomical Relations
The zygomaticus major muscle sits lateral the zygomaticus minor muscle.
Actions
The zygomaticus major muscle elevates the angle of the mouth and also draws it laterally. This action is used when laughing (Standring, 2016).
List of Clinical Correlates
- Bell’s palsy
References
Standring, S. (2016) Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. Gray's Anatomy Series 41st edn.: Elsevier Limited.
