Muscle Attachments of the Skull

Buccinator Muscle (L. bucca, cheek)

attachments - from alveolar processes of the maxilla and mandible, pterygoid hamulus and pterygomandibular raphe to the buccal angle

action - compresses the cheek

innervation - buccal branch of the facial nerve

Depressor Anguli Oris Muscle

attachments - from mandible to buccal angle

function - depresses the buccal angle laterally

innervation - buccal and mandibular branches of the facial nerve

Depressor Labii Inferioris Muscle

attachments - from lower oblique line of mandible to the skin and mucosa of the lower lip

function - draws the lower lip downward

innervation - mandibular branch of the facial nerve

Levator Angui Oris Muscle

attachments - from the canine fossa of the maxilla to the angle of the mouth

function - raises the angle of the mouth

innervation - zygomatic and buccal branches of the facial nerve

Levator Labii Superioris Muscle

attachments - from the inferior orbital margin to the lateral aspect of the upper lip

function - raises and everts the upper lip

innervation - buccal and zygomatic branches of the facial nerve

Mentalis Muscle

attachments - from the incisive fossa of the mandible to the skin of the chin

function - raises the lower lip

innervation - mandibular branch of the facial nerve

Orbicularis Oculi Muscle

attachments - from the orbital margin and medial palpebral ligament to the superficial fascia of the eyelid

function - palpebral sphinchter

innervation - temporal and zygomatic branches of the facial nerve

Orbicularis Oris Muscle

attachments - from the angle of the mouth to the superficial fascia of the upper lip

function - oral sphinchter

innervation - buccal and mandibular branches of the facial nerve

Zygomaticus Major Muscle (G. zygon, yoke, a joining or pair)

attachments - from the zygomatic bone to the angle of the mouth

function - raises the buccal angle

innervation - buccal and zygomatic branches of the facial nerve

Masseter Muscle

attachments - from the zygomatic arch to the angle of the mandible and lateral aspect of the ramus

function - elevation, protraction and retraction (deep fibers) of the mandible

innervation - mandibular nerve

Temporalis Muscle

attachments - from the temporal fossa to the coronoid process and anterior border of the ramus of the mandible

function - elevation and retraction (posterior aspect of the muscle) of the mandible

innervation - mandibular nerve

Sternocleidomastoid Muscle

attachments - from the lateral aspect of the mastoid process and superior nuchal line to the manubrium and medial 1/3rd of the clavicle

function - flexion of the head and neck, and contralateral rotation of the head

innervation - accessory nerve

Splenius Capitis Muscle (G. splenion, bandage)

attachments - from the ligamentum nuchae and lower cervical and upper thoracic spinous processes to the lateral third of the superior nuchal line

function - extension and lateral flexion of the head

innervation - dorsal rami of cervical spinal nerves

Longissimus Capitis Muscle

attachments - from the upper thoracic transverse processes to the posterior margin of the mastoid process

function - together they extend the neck, a single side causes ipsilateral rotation

innervation - dorsal rami of cervical spinal nerves

Semispinalis Capitis Muscle

attachments - from the upper thoracic and cervical transverse processes to the occipital bone between the inferior and superior nuchal lines

function - extension of the head

innervation - dorsal rami of cervical spinal nerves

Rectus Capitis Posterior Major Muscle

attachments - from the spinous process of the axis to the adjacent occipital bone

function - extension of the head

innervation - suboccipital nerve (dorsal ramus of C1)

Rectus Capitis Posterior Minor Muscle

attachments - from the posterior tubercle of the atlas to the adjacent occipital bone

function - extension of the head

innervation - suboccipital nerve (dorsal ramus of C1)

Obliquus Capitis Superior Muscle

attachments - from the transverse process of the atlas to the occipital bone between superior and inferior nuchal lines

function - posterolateral flexion of the head

innervation - suboccipital nerve (dorsal ramus of C1)

Trapezius Muscle

attachments - from the superior nuchal line, external occipital protuberance, ligamentum nuchae, and cervical and thoracic spinous processes to the clavicle, acromion and scapular spine

function - scapular elevation, depression, retraction and superior rotation of the lateral angle

innervation - accessory nerve (motor innervation) and C3-5 (sensory)

Muscle Attachments of the Skull

Overview