The patient/client is sitting (or standing) and either facing a mirror or facing the person who will mimic a facial expression of sadness. The angles of the lower lip are pulled downward, an expression that looks like sadness, pouting or crying. After showing a picture or demonstrating one of these expressions, ask the patient/client to mimic the expression. With the muscle relaxed initially and with permission, gently place one or two fingers inferior to the angles of the patient/client's lower lip and ask the person to look sad, pout or cry. Ask the person to relax and repeat these motions if necessary. If permission is not granted, then observe as the person mimics one of these expressions, relaxes and then repeats the expression.

In one video, the depressor anguli oris is palpated, inferior to the corner or angle of the mouth during the facial expression of sadness. In another video, the depressor anguli oris and the depressor labii inferioris both are palpated during a facial expression resembling crying. The depressor labii inferioris is palpated inferior to the center of the lower lip. These two muscles are continuous with the platysma, which would be active especially during the facial expression which resembles crying. In another video, the buccinator is palpated in the center of the cheek and the depressor anguli oris is palpated at the angle of the mouth during an expression that resembles pouting. Activation of the mentalis during these videos can be observed as wrinkles of the skin over the chin; however this muscle is not palpated. In all cases, the depressor anguli oris nuscle pulls the angles of the mouth down.

Some of the palpations demonstrate finger placement after muscle activation to allow better viewing, as well as before muscle activation. 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.