Sitting or standing
Anterior to the patient
Please sit (or stand).
I would like to check the function of two muscles on your cheek.
Please look at this picture of a person performing a tight, open smile.
(Or . . . Please look at me while I smile.) May I touch the skin on your cheek?
(If the answer is yes) I will gently place my fingers on your cheek while you smile. Please smile, then relax and then smile again.
(If the answer is no) Please smile, then relax and then smile again while I observe.
(If the answer is yes) I will gently place my fingers on your cheek while you smile. Please smile, then relax and then smile again.
(If the answer is no) Please smile, then relax and then smile again while I observe.
The patient/client is sitting (or standing)
and either facing a mirror or facing the person who will demonstrate a tight, open smile.
After showing a picture or demonstrating the smile, ask the patient/client to smile.
With the muscle relaxed initially and with permission, place one or two fingers
between the center of the cheek and the nose of the patient/client and ask the person to smile.
Ask the person to relax and repeat these motions if necessary.
If permission is not granted, then observe as the person smiles, relaxes and then smiles again.
In the video, the palpation for the muscles occurs with finger placement:
- between the center of the cheek and the nose but closer to the center of the cheek for the zygomaticus major
- between center of the cheek and the nose but closer to the nose for the zygomaticus minor
- near the corner of the mouth for the levator anguli oris
- at the center of the cheek for the buccinator
Some of the videos show demonstration of finger placement after muscle activation to allow better viewing. The correct technique of palpation of muscle includes the sequence of muscle activation, relaxation of the muscle, placement of the fingers on the muscle before the muscle is activated, activation of the muscle, and relaxation of the muscle.