Smile
Smile
A Smile (/smaɪl/; from Middle English smilen, originally from Old English smylan; akin to Old High German smielen) is a facial expression formed by flexing the muscles near both ends of the mouth and by flexing muscles throughout the mouth. Some smiles include contraction of the muscles at the corner of the eyes.
Anatomy of a Smile
A smile typically involves action of the zygomaticus major muscle, which raises the corners of the mouth. If the orbicularis oculi muscle, which encircles the eye, is also involved, then the smile is known as a Duchenne smile after the French neurologist Guillaume Duchenne.
Types of Smiles
There are several types of smiles, including but not limited to:
- Duchenne smile: A genuine smile, involving the mouth, cheeks, and eyes.
- Pan Am smile: A forced smile, named after the airline Pan American World Airways, whose flight attendants would always flash every passenger the same perfunctory smile.
- Botox smile: A smile that is limited in range due to the use of Botox or other forms of facial paralysis.
Psychological Effects
Smiling is often associated with positive social values, such as happiness, friendliness, and sociability. It can also serve as a social signaling system, often in coordination with other forms of nonverbal communication.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Smile
- Wikipedia's article - Smile
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