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What is the Risorius?

Meshell Powell
Meshell Powell

The risorius is one of the many muscles of the face. More specifically, it is one muscle among the dozen located in the mouth area. This muscle aids in various facial movements, including the ability to smile as well as helping to create what is commonly referred to as crow's feet.

The risorius muscle begins at the parotid gland, which is the largest of the salivary glands. From the parotid gland, this muscle passes in front of the platysma muscle in the neck and chest region of the body. The risorius then connects to the skin of the mouth.

The risorius works to stretch the mouth in a lateral direction. This stretching motion works to retract the corners of the mouth. Through this action, the corners of the mouth move upward, giving a facial expression that resembles a smile.

The risorius is one of many facial muscles that's involved in a variety of facial movements.
The risorius is one of many facial muscles that's involved in a variety of facial movements.

The risorius muscle works primarily by drawing the angle of the mouth into an outward motion. This action results in the appearance of a smile, although not a very sincere-looking smile. That action requires the help of different facial muscles. Because the risorius causes smile-type facial movements, it is often referred to as the laughing muscle. This is somewhat erroneous, as well as a bit misleading, since different muscles are actually used for laughing.

The risorius is sometimes referred to at the laughing muscle because is causes smile-type facial movements.
The risorius is sometimes referred to at the laughing muscle because is causes smile-type facial movements.

The risorius works closely with the platysma muscle. On its own, the platysma is responsible for facial expressions such as grimacing or a look of melancholy. When these muscles work together, a combination of these basic facial expressions becomes possible.

As is the case with the other muscles of the face, the risorius muscle is connected to the facial nerve. In anatomy, this nerve is labeled CN VII. This facial nerve helps to control facial movements. It also aids in the ability to taste.

The facial nerve itself is primarily responsible for developing the motor skills necessary to learn to be able to control facial expressions and show emotion. Once these motor skills have been developed, the facial muscles are able to work with this nerve to create a variety of expressions. It is these parts of the body working closely together that provides humans with the ability to convey emotion through facial expressions alone.

It is widely believed that the risorius muscle is only found in humans. Chimpanzees have been found to have similar muscle fibers. However, fully developed risorius muscles have only been found in human specimens.

Discussion Comments

Mor

@bythewell - That makes me think of that saying that it takes more muscles to frown than it does to smile.

According to Snopes that's not really true. Or at least, there's no way to tell if it's true, because, aside from the risorius, they can't really decide how many muscles are involved in a smile or a frown. Do eye muscles count, for example?

But they also say that changing the muscles of your facial expression can change your mood. Even if you are pretending to be afraid, it can make you feel afraid.

bythewell

@Iluviaporos - Another interesting thing about smiling in humans is that even if you don't mean it, it can make you feel happier.

I'm not sure if scientists know if this is an ingrained thing, or if it's associative (i.e. since we are usually happy when we smile, the brain associates the movement with happiness and releases hormones in response).

You can try it right now. Even if you are just going through the motions, smiling will make you feel happier. And seeing someone smile will also help.

It might seem kind of fake, but I sometimes use it to help me feel better, particularly if I'm about to hang out with some people and I feel flat. Just start your friendly smile a few minutes before you usually would.

lluviaporos

I find it really interesting that the risorius is only found in humans.

I saw a video recently of chimpanzees who were seeing the sunlight for the first time after living their entire lives inside. They had big grins on their faces, and a lot of comments under the video said something about them smiling.

In reality, they were exposing their teeth because they were scared. Teeth are, after all, an aggressive kind of thing to be showing someone.

It's actually really weird that humans developed the habit of smiling, and that it's so ingrained that we actually have muscles for it that no other animals have.

But, I guess it goes along with the very social and communicative nature of human beings.

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    • The risorius is one of many facial muscles that's involved in a variety of facial movements.
      By: nerthuz
      The risorius is one of many facial muscles that's involved in a variety of facial movements.
    • The risorius is sometimes referred to at the laughing muscle because is causes smile-type facial movements.
      By: Subbotina Anna
      The risorius is sometimes referred to at the laughing muscle because is causes smile-type facial movements.