Levator Anguli Oris, Anterior View

Description

Arising from the canine fossa of the anterior maxilla, the levator anguli oris is shown as a deep elevator of the mouth’s modiolus, positioned inferior to the infraorbital margin and medial to the zygomaticus major and minor. From an anterior angle it tracks inferolaterally toward the angle of the mouth, lying deep to the more superficial zygomaticus muscles and blending near the orbicularis oris at the commissure. Lateral to it, the buccinator forms the muscular wall of the cheek, while the maxillary dentition and alveolar process provide clear bony reference points. A small, deep muscle. This specific view matters because levator anguli oris is easy to miss when teaching facial expression muscles, yet it directly influences commissure position and the resting symmetry of the smile. Its origin on the maxilla places it near surgical corridors used in approaches to the anterior maxillary sinus and canine fossa, where dissection that strays too superficial can confuse it with zygomaticus slips and where deeper dissection must respect the nearby course of the infraorbital nerve as it exits the infraorbital foramen. The anterior perspective also helps clarify how elevators of the upper lip and commissure layer over the facial skeleton, a common source of errors in both anatomy lab and procedural planning. Use this illustration in head and neck anatomy teaching to contrast superficial zygomaticus muscles with deeper perioral elevators, and in dental or maxillofacial coursework to anchor facial expression muscles to the maxillary canine region. It also fits well in facial palsy education, cosmetic injection planning, and operative atlases that discuss perioral dissection planes around the modiolus and buccinator. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.