Which muscle raises the lower lip, causing the chin to wrinkle?

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!

The action being tested is which muscle lifts the lower lip and causes the chin to wrinkle. The mentalis sits at the tip of the chin, extending from the mandible to the skin of the chin and into the lower lip. When it contracts, it pushes the lower lip outward and elevates the skin of the chin, producing the characteristic vertical wrinkles on the chin that you see when you pout or frown. The other muscles have different roles: the depressor labii inferioris pulls the lower lip downward, the orbicularis oris closes and shapes the lips around the mouth, and the zygomaticus muscles lift the corners of the mouth during smiling. Therefore, the muscle responsible for raising the lower lip and wrinkling the chin is the mentalis.