The authors describe the anatomical characteristics of the levator labii superioris muscle by dissection in cadavers. PURPOSE. We describe the characteristics of these muscle, the details and relations, hopefully contributing to the study of muscle of the face. METHODS. Twenty faces of cadavers were dissected. The following features were studied: origin, insertion, length, width, thickness, relations, innervation and blood supply. RESULTS. In all cases the muscle originated from the inferior orbital margin. Two insertions were observed: via lateral fibers, superficial to the orbicularis oris muscle and via deep fibers thar form part of the raphe at the corner of the mouth (70%); via superficial fibers to the orbicularis oris muscle (30%). The average of the length was 24.66mm and the average of the thickness was 3.57mm. The width at its insertion was 11,2 mm, and at the origin was 15.96mm. The levator labii superioris muscle was found to be anterior to the levator anguli oris; it was posterior to the distal portion of the zygomaticus minor (90%) and posterior to the mid portion of the zygomaticus minor (10%). The innervation was from the inferior branch of the zygomatic nerve (facial nerve) and from the infraorbital nerve (trigeminal nerve). The inferior portion of the muscle is supplied by branches of the angular artery and the superior part from branches of the infraorbital artery.
Face; Facial muscles; Lip; Anatomy of the face
