01 / Location & anatomical relationships
At the front of your head, from your forehead to your chin.
02 / Structure & organization
Most muscles of facial expression insert into skin rather than moving a joint between two bones. They receive motor supply from the facial nerve. Facial sensation is supplied mainly by branches of the trigeminal nerve, a separate cranial nerve.
03 / Function
Muscles under your skin help you smile and make expressions.
04 / Mechanism
Small muscles pull on the skin around your eyes and mouth to create expressions. Your face also contains openings that let light, air and food reach the right places. Many facial movements happen together when you speak.
Part of a bigger picture
The face belongs in our head & face collection. Explore the nearby parts to see how this area of the body fits together.
Explore head & face →FOR DEEPER STUDY
Connect structure with function
Compare facial expression with chewing: muscles of mastication move the mandible and have a different motor nerve supply. Similar locations do not imply identical functions.
Check your understanding
Locate the face in relation to its neighbors. Explain how the structural features described above support its function, then distinguish it from a nearby structure with a different role.
Keep learning
Continue with OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology for system-level study. This atlas is educational and has not undergone independent medical peer review.