Which muscle retracts and elevates the corner of the mouth?

Which muscle retracts and elevates the corner of the mouth?

• A. Zygomaticus Major
• B. Frontalis
• C. Orbicularis Oris
• D. Orbicularis Oculi

Answer: (A)

The key idea is understanding which facial muscle moves the corner of the mouth upward and toward the cheek. The zygomaticus major does exactly that: it runs from the zygomatic bone to the corner of the mouth, and its contraction elevates the mouth corner and pulls it slightly laterally, producing a smile. The other muscles have different primary roles—frontalis lifts the eyebrows, orbicularis oris closes and puckers the lips, and orbicularis oculi closes the eyelids. The zygomaticus minor raises the upper lip rather than the mouth corner, so it doesn’t produce the same mouth-corner elevation.

The key idea is understanding which facial muscle moves the corner of the mouth upward and toward the cheek. The zygomaticus major does exactly that: it runs from the zygomatic bone to the corner of the mouth, and its contraction elevates the mouth corner and pulls it slightly laterally, producing a smile. The other muscles have different primary roles—frontalis lifts the eyebrows, orbicularis oris closes and puckers the lips, and orbicularis oculi closes the eyelids. The zygomaticus minor raises the upper lip rather than the mouth corner, so it doesn’t produce the same mouth-corner elevation.