Which of the following muscles is responsible for smiling?

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BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Starting with understanding the question, we are asked which muscle is responsible for smiling, and we have five options to evaluate.
Option 1: temporalis. This muscle primarily elevates the mandible to close the jaw during chewing, not involved in producing a smile. So this choice does not explain smiling.
Option 2: orbicularis oris. The orbicularis oris encircles the mouth and functions to close and purse the lips, as in whistling or kissing, rather than lifting the mouth corners upward to smile. It contributes to lip movements but not the classic smile motion by elevating the mouth corners.
Option 3: buccinator. The buccinator is a cheek muscle that keeps food between the teeth during chewing and aids in cheek compression; it does not primarily lift the mouth corners for smiling.
Option 4: zygomaticus. This group of muscles (major and minor) attaches from the zygomatic bone to the corners of the mouth and is the primary elevator of the mouth corners, producing the genuine smiling expression. This is the correct functional candidate for smiling.
Option 5: platysma. The platysma runs in the neck and can depress the mandible and tense the neck skin; it is not a primary driver of smiling and may even contribute to a tense, downward pull rather than an upward smile.
In summary, each option shows a different facial role, but the smiling action is best explained by the zygomaticus muscles, which elevate the mouth corners to create the characteristic smile. The other muscles have roles in chewing, lip sealing, cheek compression, or neck tension, which do not align with smiling as their primary function.

BIOLOGY 211-B09C Practice Exam 2

Which of the following muscles is responsible for smiling?

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