The patient/client is sitting (or standing) and either facing a mirror or facing the person who will demonstrate the grimace. This facial expression also may be described as snarling, an expression of horror or surprise, or an attempt to relieve the pressure on the neck from a tie that is too tight. After showing a picture of a grimace or demonstrating it, ask the patient/client to grimace. With the muscle relaxed initially and with permission, gently place your fingers on his/her neck and ask the person to grimace. Then ask the person to relax and repeat these motions, if necessary. If permission is not granted, then just watch as the person grimaces, relaxes and then grimaces again while you observe.

Palpation of the platysma muscle in this video demonstrates finger placement after muscle activation to allow for 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.

The reason that the platysma can be palpated over the entire anterior and anterolateral neck is due to its extensive attachment sites. This broad sheet of muscle attaches to the fascia superficial to the superior portion of the pectoralis major and the deltoid and continues superiorly along the lateral surface of the neck. Anterior fibers attach to contralateral muscle fibers and to the lower lip. Fibers attach to the inferior border of the mandible, the lower lip and the skin and subcutaneous tissue of the lower face. Activation of these muscle fibers results in prominence of muscular bands.