Risorius
Risorius
Risorius (pronounced ri-SO-ri-us) is a facial muscle found in the human body. It is also known as the "laughing muscle" due to its role in facial expressions, particularly smiling and laughing.
Etymology
The term "risorius" is derived from the Latin word "risus", which means "laugh". This is a reference to the muscle's function in producing the facial expressions associated with laughter.
Anatomy
The risorius muscle is a thin, broad muscle that is located at the corner of the mouth. It originates from the fascia over the parotid gland and the masseter muscle, and it inserts into the skin at the corner of the mouth. The risorius is responsible for pulling the corners of the mouth to the side, which is a key movement in smiling and laughing.
Function
The primary function of the risorius is to facilitate facial expressions, particularly those related to happiness and amusement. When the risorius contracts, it pulls the corners of the mouth sideways and backwards, creating a smile or a laugh. This muscle is also involved in other facial movements, such as grimacing.
Related Terms
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Risorius
- Wikipedia's article - Risorius
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski