The patient/client is sitting (or standing) and either facing a mirror or facing the person who will demonstrate pulling the sides of the nose down. After showing a picture or demonstrating this expression, ask the patient/client to pull the sides of the nose down. With the muscle relaxed initially and with permission, gently place one finger on the face lateral to the inferior aspect of the nose and ask the patient/client to pull the sides of the nose down. Ask the person to relax and repeat these motions if necessary. If permission is not granted, then observe as the person pulls the sides of the nose down, relaxes and then repeats these motions if necessary.

This video demonstrates palpation of the depressor septi muscle. This muscle is palpated after muscle activation for 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.

The depressor septi muscle functions with the alar (dilator) part of the nasalis muscle if the nostrils are flared when the sides of the nose are pulled down.

This muscle is not identified in the VH Dissector.