Which muscle pulls back the corners of the lips?

Study the Muscle Actions and Functions Test. Explore anatomy and movement with flashcards and multiple choice questions. Master your exam with hints and explanations check your understanding!

Multiple Choice

Which muscle pulls back the corners of the lips?

Explanation:
When moving the lips, the key players are facial expression muscles. The buccinator sits in the cheek and attaches at the corners of the mouth. When it contracts, it pulls those corners backward toward the cheek and tightens the cheek against the teeth. This action helps with cheek support during chewing and also assists in movements like blowing or whistling. The other muscles listed don’t move the lips: the masseter and temporalis lift the jaw for chewing, and the deltoid moves the shoulder. So pulling back the corners of the mouth is the job of the buccinator.

When moving the lips, the key players are facial expression muscles. The buccinator sits in the cheek and attaches at the corners of the mouth. When it contracts, it pulls those corners backward toward the cheek and tightens the cheek against the teeth. This action helps with cheek support during chewing and also assists in movements like blowing or whistling. The other muscles listed don’t move the lips: the masseter and temporalis lift the jaw for chewing, and the deltoid moves the shoulder. So pulling back the corners of the mouth is the job of the buccinator.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy