Which muscle closes the eyelid?

Prepare for the VTCT Level 2 Facial and Skincare Test. Revise with flashcards and multiple choice questions, accompanied by insightful explanations. Ace your assessment with confidence!

Multiple Choice

Which muscle closes the eyelid?

Closing the eyelid is produced by the orbicularis oculi, a circular muscle that surrounds the eye. When it contracts, the eyelids come together. It has two parts: the orbital part, which closes the lids tightly, and the palpebral part, which gently closes them during blinking. The other muscles listed don’t close the eyelid: the levator palpebrae superioris raises the upper lid to open it; the frontalis elevates the eyebrows and can lift the lid slightly but doesn’t close it; and the nasalis controls the nasal area, not the eyelids. So the muscle responsible for eyelid closure is the orbicularis oculi.

Closing the eyelid is produced by the orbicularis oculi, a circular muscle that surrounds the eye. When it contracts, the eyelids come together. It has two parts: the orbital part, which closes the lids tightly, and the palpebral part, which gently closes them during blinking. The other muscles listed don’t close the eyelid: the levator palpebrae superioris raises the upper lid to open it; the frontalis elevates the eyebrows and can lift the lid slightly but doesn’t close it; and the nasalis controls the nasal area, not the eyelids. So the muscle responsible for eyelid closure is the orbicularis oculi.

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