Anterior Perspective of the Levator Anguli Oris

Description

Centered on the midface in anterior anatomical position, the levator anguli oris is seen as a narrow elevator of the oral commissure arising from the canine fossa of the maxilla, inferior to the infraorbital foramen and lateral to the piriform aperture. Its fibers course inferiorly and laterally toward the modiolus at the corner of the mouth, where they blend with orbicularis oris and interdigitate with zygomaticus major and the upper fibers of buccinator. Adjacent bony landmarks include the maxillary alveolar process with the dental arcade, the mandible inferiorly, and the zygomatic bone laterally, with the upper cervical vertebrae visible as a posterior midline reference through the neck. Small muscle slips around the nasal and orbital regions frame the field. Clinically, this is the subtle muscle that helps “lift the corner” rather than the upper lip, so it matters when you are teaching why some smiles remain asymmetric after isolated weakness of zygomaticus major. Buccal and zygomatic branches of the facial nerve (CN VII) supply the levator anguli oris, and selective injury during midface approaches or parotid surgery can flatten the nasolabial fold and blunt commissure elevation on the affected side. Its deep position also places it near the facial artery and vein as they traverse the perioral region, a practical point for injection planning and for understanding hematoma patterns after trauma. Small, but telling. Use this artwork to anchor head and neck anatomy lectures on muscles of facial expression, to illustrate modiolus anatomy in dental and maxillofacial teaching, or to support clinical figures on facial nerve palsy, midface fracture assessment, and perioral aesthetic procedures in textbooks and journal reviews. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.