Name

Risorius

Pronunciation

(ri-sor-E-us)

Origin/Proximal Attachment

From parotid fascia over maseter muscle.

Insertion/Distal Attachment

Into the skin at the angle of the mouth

Action/Relevance

Retracts the angle of the mouth

Innervation

Buccal branch of the facial nerve

Notes

Risorius is one of the muscles of facial expression. Bilaterally, it arises from deep fascia of the parotid gland. Passing anteriorly, it inserts into the modiolus and the skin at the angle of the mouth.