Muscles 2

In this video we will discuss major functional groups of the muscles of the following regions of the
body; the head, the neck, the abdomen and the back. We will also study some representative
examples of these muscle groups and discuss their functions based on their attachments.

The muscles of facial expression attach to bone or fascia and produce effects by pulling the skin.
These muscles are located within the subcutaneous space, that is, the space immediately
underneath the skin. They convey facial expressions to indicate our moods, as well as close openings
such as the eyes and the mouth.

The occipitofrontalis is a flat muscle consisting of two bellies (frontalis and occipitalis)
interconnected by a flat tendon called epicranial aponeurosis.

The orbicularis oculi is a sphincter type muscle that surrounds the orbital margin and extends into
the eyelids. It functions to close the eyelids.

Orbicularis oris is another circular muscle located within the lips. It is an oral sphincter that closes
the mouth.

Buccinator is a muscle that forms the cheek. It originates at both the mandible and maxilla and
inserts into the angle of the mouth; it assists in chewing, speaking and blowing.

Note that these muscles are all innervated by the cranial nerve called cranial nerve 7 or the facial
nerve.

Damage to the facial nerve on its way from the brain stem to the designated muscles is called Bells
palsy. It produces paralysis of facial muscles on the same side of the lesion and can be seen in this
illustration, where you can note the drooping of the eyelids and of the lip.

Muscles of mastication facilitate movement of the mandible to bring the maxillary and mandibular
teeth into occlusion, that is, into contact so that it can break-down food.

The masseter muscle is the strongest muscle in the body, that is, per unit of mass. It originates at
the zygomatic arch and the zygoma. It inserts at the angle of the mandible. Therefore it has
predominantly vertical fibers. It elevates the mandible closing the jaw. Additionally it contributes to
the jaw protrusion due to some of the oblique fibres. The masseter can be easily felt by placing the
palms on the lateral sides of face while clenching the teeth.

The temporalis is a triangular muscle with broad attachment in the temporal fossa of the skull. Its
fibers converge to attach onto the coronoid process of the mandible, which is a part of the
mandibular ramus (hidden by the masseter). The vertically arranged fascicles of the temporalis
elevates the mandible closing the jaw. The most posterior fibres of this muscle are almost horizontal
and thus they retract the jaw or pull the jaw backwards.
The sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle is a broad sheet of muscle that runs obliquely on the side of
the neck. It has two heads corresponding to two origins: the sternal and the clavicular.

The sternal head originates at the manubrium of the sternum while the clavicular head – originates
at the medial third of the clavicle.

The two heads unite as they pass upward towards the superior attachment at the mastoid process of
the temporal bone, on the skull.

When both the right and left SCM muscles contract simultaneously, this is called bilateral
contraction, it flexes the neck forward so that the chin approaches the manubrium. When the
sternocleidomastoid of one side acts alone, that is called unilateral contraction, the
sternocleidomastoid flexes the neck to the same side and rotates the head to the opposite side, this
is due to the oblique direction of its fibres.

Back muscles are organised in several layers. the superficial muscles, such as the trapezius and the
latissimus dorsi, connect the trunk and upper limb, thus moving the upper limb, the intermediate
group comprise a few thin muscles that are mainly active in respiration and finally the deep group of
back muscles concerned primarily with movements of the trunk itself.

Apart from moving the vertebral column, these deep muscles of the back are important for
maintaining the normal curvatures of the spine and the posture.

In this course we identify the largest of the deep back muscles, the erector spinae. This forms a
broad thick column running from the sacrum to the skull. As the name suggests, this muscle is the
prime mover of back extension when it is contracted bilaterally. The erector spinae muscle also
provides resistance that helps control the action of bending forward. Unilateral contraction of
erector spinae results in lateral bending of the trunk.

The anterolateral abdominal wall are formed by three broad flat muscles layered superficial to deep.
As a group they span the space between the costal margin and the hip bone.

The external abdominal oblique muscle is the most superficial of the three muscles. Its fibres run
inferomedially and become a flat tendon called the aponeurosis of external oblique .

The internal abdominal oblique muscle forms the intermediate layer. Its fibres run anteromedially
at a right angle to the axis of the external oblique.

The transversus abdominis is the deepest layer and it has horizontally arranged muscle fibres.

Note that these three flat muscles are continued anteriorly and medially as strong sheet-like
aponeuroses.

The aponeurosis of these muscles, especially the external oblique forms the inguinal ligament, under
which the neurovasculature structures to the thigh passes.

Finally, right in front, the abdominal wall is built off the two rectus abdominis muscles. Rectus
abdominis has vertically arranged fascicles that originate at the pubis and run vertically up to insert
at the xiphoid process and costal cartilages. It is divided into four parts by tendinous intersections.

Page 2 of 3
This is the muscle that is commonly known as the six pack. Note the rectus sheath, a thick
aponeurotic covering that encloses each rectus abdominis muscle and interweaves with the
aponeuroses of the opposite side forming the linea alba (white line).

Here you can see the rectus abdominis muscle on its own with tendinous intersections and the linea
alba.

The four muscles of the abdominal wall function in anterior, lateral flexion and rotation of the trunk.
They also pull ribs inferiorly and compress the abdominal contents. This action pushes the
diaphragm superiorly and aids in forced expiration. Contraction of abdominal muscles with
diaphragm with closed airways produces so called Valsalva manoeuvre that increases intra-
abdominal pressure. This mechanism assists in voiding urine, defecation, vomiting, childbirth,
sneezing, coughing, laughing, screaming and even nose blowing. Abdominal muscles also support
viscera and strengthen the trunk. They also contract in heavy lifting.

With this, we conclude a brief review of muscles of the head, neck, back and anterolateral
abdominal wall.

Page 3 of 3