Tips on Pencil Portrait Drawing - Muscles That Create the Smile
Posted: Saturday, January 17, 2009
by Remi Engels
Remi's Arts
A smile is the result of happiness. It lifts and widens the bottom of the face and the uplifted cheeks will often crease the flesh just below the eyes resulting in the so-called "crow' feet".
To comprehend the makings of a smile in its numerous manifestations we must first comprehend the underlying anatomy.
Below we list the 3 critical muscles that contribute to a smile:
When the zygomaticus major shrinks it bulges and raises the cheek while further extending the Nasolabial Furrow or smile-line.
* The Malaris - rests on top of the zygomaticus major and is a extended, ribbon-like deep-seated muscle. It initiates at the temple and inserts into and forms the bottom half of the nasolabial furrow.
The malaris is the cheek muscle. It draws up the cheek in an outwards and back direction making it swell and giving it the puffed cheek look.
* The Buccinator - quadrilateral muscle forms the "cheek cushion". It initiates on the back, inside of the jaw and inserts into the "corners" of the mouth.
When smiling the buccinator shrinks thus pulling at the corners and widen the mouth.
As the mouth is widened and drawn by both the zygomaticus major and buccinator the lips are extended and flattened. So is the chin. The philtrum is reduced and the nostrils flare slightly.
Below are still other minor muscles that contribute to the smile:
1. The Risorius - is a strange muscle because not everyone has one. Some people only have a risorius on one side of the face. Others have a large, extensive triangular shaped one.
The Risorius initiates in the tissue of the Masseter (whose action is utilized mainly for chewing) and inserts into the node of the mouth.
The risorius delicately heaves the node backwards and up. Its effect is generally noticed in gentle smiles.
2. Incisivus Labii Superioris and Inferioris Superioris - The superioris does the lifting. These narrow, band-like muscles initiate just above the incisor tooth area and also attach to the node.
When fully shrunk, a puckering up of the lips (a kiss) is produced.
3. The Levator Labii Superioris is a narrow, quadrilateral muscle whose effect on the smile is slightly limited.
However, the higher part of this muscle contributes to the volume of the cheek and the nasolabial furrow.
Over the 3 critical muscles goes the most intricate of all the facial muscles, the Orbicularis Oris which operates throughout a large range of actions and expressions.
During a smile the bottom eyelids are also pressed upwards. This is the result of a secondary action where the Orbicularis Oculi (the muscle of the eye socket) shrinks.
The nasolabial furrow is deepened as it is simultaneously drawn and pressed upwards and outwards. It is best to play down the sharp fold of the nasolabial furrow otherwise the smile will degenerate into a grimace.
As the node of the mouth is drawn out and upwards the flesh is gathered into subtle vertical ridges.
The interstice of the mouth curves upwards, expanding and flattening the lips while shortening the philtrum. The nostrils of the nose also widen as they are drawn outwards.
The top portion of the nasolabial furrow is formed by a slender, 3-part muscle called the Levator Labii Superioris Alaeque Nasi. This is the muscle that produces wrinkles in the nose during sniffing.
The elements of this muscle are the furrow section which inserts into the upper part of the nasolabial furrow; the alar section which inserts under and behind the wing of the nose (Alae Nasi); and the lip section which inserts continuously into the ridge just above the upper lip and to the philtrum.
When sketching the nasolabial furrow be careful not to over-do it. A delicate suggestion is all that is needed. Otherwise your lovely smile will quickly degenerate into a scowl.
With this we have itemized and discussed the most essential muscles that are involved in the smile. This should put you on the accurate path for comprehend ing the anatomy of the smile.
This Article has been viewed 636 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)thanks for writing this. it was very helpful for my project. THX! :)
:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)
We want your comments! If you can read this, you don't have javascript enabled, so you can't use this comment system. Please enable javascript.