Orbicularis oculi muscle

The orbicularis oculi o palpebrarum muscle (Orbicularis oculi or palpebrarum) is a muscle of the face. It is located under the skin, in front of the eye socket; ring-shaped, wide, flattened and thin, made up of three parts: orbital palpebral and lacrimal.

INSERT: It inserts internally on the orbicularis tendon, which in turn inserts on the anterior and posterior lips of the lacrimal canal, on the ascending process of the maxilla and the internal orbital process of the frontal, and on the outside on the deep face of the maxilla. the skin.

INNERVATION: The orbicularis oculi muscle is innervated by temporal and zygomatic branches of the facial nerve.

Spasm or paralysis of the orbicularis oculi muscle causes eversion of the eyelid, called ectropion. ´ Relations: The superficial face is related to the skin, the deep face is related to the orbital rim, the superciliary muscle, the supraorbital artery and nerve, the broad ligaments of the eyelids, and the tarsal cartilages. On the palpebral rim there is a muscular band one or two millimeters wide, where the eyelashes are implanted, it is the Riolano muscle and it extends from commissure to commissure.

This muscle is activated when smiling and conveys the sensation of a real smile, since when we make a social smile it does not come into action and the zygomaticus muscle is hardly activated.

ACTION: The action of this muscle allows the eye to be closed and it is the only muscle capable of doing so.