Orbicular muscle of the mouth
Musculus orbicularis oris
Closes the mouth by drawing the lips together.
- System
- Muscle
- Region
- Head
- Sides
- Single, on the midline
Where it runs from and to
A muscle is told apart from its neighbours by what it takes hold of at each end, which is also what decides what it does when it shortens.
- Origin
- No bony origin: a thin ring of fibres within the lips, broken by a raphe in the upper lip.
- Insertion
- Blends with the other muscles of the lips and, in the lower lip, with the platysma.
- Action
- Closes the mouth by drawing the lips together.
- Nerve
- Facial nerve, buccal branches.
Written for Vetomica in its own words from the standard reference anatomy of the cat; the books it was checked against are listed below.
Terminology
- English
- Orbicular muscle of the mouth
- Latin (NAV)
- Musculus orbicularis oris
- Status
- A valid term in the Nomina Anatomica Veterinaria