Engage Those Zygomaticus Muscles

So much of our human body and how it operates is a daily mystery that I don’t take enough time to appreciate and notice.

Winding down my A-Z gratitude list by giving time and words of appreciation to several components of this amazing earthly vehicle we each reside in has been a good reset and also a learning experience for me. There is so much to know about the intricacies of what we move around in, live in, experience life in, day-to-day.

It is fitting that I close with a pair of facial muscles we use every day: zygomaticus major and minor.

Here is a summary, thanks to various reputable sources on Google, of their functions:

The two muscles lie next to each other in the area of our cheekbones. With the zygomaticus major inserting near the corner of our mouths and the minor inserting on our upper lips.

The main action provided by the zygomaticus major muscle is the elevation of the angle of the mouth in the upward and lateral directions. Contractions of this muscle produce facial expressions of pleasure or laughter.

The zygomaticus major muscle is associated with the formation of cheek dimples in some individuals. Cheek dimples happen due to different variations of the zygomaticus major muscle. People who have cheek dimples usually have separated zygomaticus major muscles.

Before inserting into the connective tissue of the mouth corner, the zygomaticus major muscle sometimes divides into two parts, forming two separate bundles. The split is known as the duplication or bifurcation of zygomaticus major. Skin movements over the split result in dimples, for example, when smiling.

Upon activation, the zygomaticus minor pulls the upper lip backward, upward and laterally. This muscle also deepens and elevates the nasolabial sulcus–which is the groove or crease from the outside corner of our noses to the corner or our mouths on each side–also called laugh lines or smile lines.

There you have it. Without this pair of muscles, our emotions from within would be left with no avenue to show themselves on the outside. Think about how important facial expressions are to communication and how they help us process all the joys and sorrows. They help us all better approach one another with compassion and understanding, or a necessary caution.

Good morning zygomaticus major and minor. I am glad you are both here and I will keep feeling life’s emotions so I can keep you in good shape. I look in the mirror and say: “Keep on smiling!”