| Latin | Musculi zygomaticus major et minor |
|---|---|
| Origin |
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| Insertion |
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| Action |
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| Nerve | Facial nerve (CN VII), zygomatic and buccal branches |
| Name | Greek zygoma, 'yoke' or 'bar' — named after the cheekbone (zygomatic bone) that it hangs from. |
Palpation
- Client supine; sit at the head of the table.
- Place your finger pads on the cheek along an imaginary line from the middle of the cheekbone down to the corner of the mouth.
- Feel for a thin strap under the skin; it is hard to separate from the surrounding tissue at rest.
- Ask the client to smile broadly; feel the zygomaticus major tighten along the line and pull towards the cheekbone.
The zygomaticus major and minor are thin muscles that run diagonally across the cheek, from the cheekbone to the corner of the mouth and the upper lip. The major is the main “smiling muscle”; the minor lies just in front of it and above it and lifts the upper lip. Their fibres blend at the mouth with the Orbicularis oris, which closes and purses the lips, while the Platysma pulls the corner of the mouth down, so both work against the zygomaticus.
In Head, face and scalp — 20 min massage, the cheek is usually worked with light, upward strokes from the corner of the mouth towards the cheekbone and ear, followed by gentle circles along the underside of the cheekbone. Moving upward and outward along the direction of the muscle fibres feels natural and lifting to most clients. Keep pressure light, because the muscle lies just under the skin and over the cheek fat.
The zygomaticus minor varies between people: it may be small or missing, and sometimes attaches near the side of the nose as well as the lip. A split (bifid) zygomaticus major is thought to be one cause of cheek dimples. These variations do not change how you massage the area.