Which muscle purses and closes the mouth?

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 purses and closes the mouth?

The main idea here is the muscle that acts as a sphincter around the lips. The orbicularis oris forms a circular band around the mouth, and when it contracts it tightens the lips together and purses them, producing the closing and puckering motion. The other muscles have different roles: zygomaticus muscles lift the corners of the mouth for smiling, mentalis protrudes the lower lip for a pout, and depressor labii inferioris lowers the lower lip. None of these wrap around the mouth to create that lip-closing, pursing action like the orbicularis oris does.

The main idea here is the muscle that acts as a sphincter around the lips. The orbicularis oris forms a circular band around the mouth, and when it contracts it tightens the lips together and purses them, producing the closing and puckering motion. The other muscles have different roles: zygomaticus muscles lift the corners of the mouth for smiling, mentalis protrudes the lower lip for a pout, and depressor labii inferioris lowers the lower lip. None of these wrap around the mouth to create that lip-closing, pursing action like the orbicularis oris does.

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