4.3 Muscles of the Head, Face, Neck, Arms and Legs
Key Takeaways
- The three types of muscle tissue are striated (voluntary, skeletal), non-striated (involuntary, smooth) and cardiac.
- A muscle has three parts: the origin, the fixed attachment; the belly, the middle; and the insertion, the movable attachment.
- Massage pressure is directed from the insertion toward the origin to avoid stretching or damaging muscle attachments.
- The epicranius (occipitofrontalis) covers the top of the skull and consists of the frontalis and occipitalis joined by the epicranial aponeurosis.
- The sternocleidomastoideus rotates and lowers the head, and the trapezius draws the head back and shrugs the shoulders.
Last updated: August 2026
Muscles of the Head, Face, Neck, Arms and Legs
Exam Focus: Two rules generate most exam items: massage runs from insertion toward origin, and each named facial muscle produces one identifiable expression. Learn the epicranius and its two bellies, the orbicularis oculi and oris, the corrugator, the buccinator, the masseter and temporalis for chewing, and the sternocleidomastoideus and trapezius for the neck.
1. Myology: Muscular System of the Head, Face, and Neck
Myology is the scientific study of the nature, structure, function, and diseases of muscles. The muscular system comprises over 600 muscles, making up approximately 40% to 50% of total human body weight.
Muscle Tissue Types
- Striated Muscle (Skeletal / Voluntary Muscle): Attached to bones, controlled by conscious will, and marked with cross-striations under microscopy. Functions in facial expressions, posture, locomotion, and manual dexterity.
- Non-Striated Muscle (Smooth / Involuntary Muscle): Lacks cross-striations, controlled involuntarily by the autonomic nervous system. Found in the walls of blood vessels, the digestive tract, and the arrector pili muscles attached to hair follicles.
- Cardiac Muscle: Specialized, involuntary striated muscle forming the walls of the heart; contracts rhythmically and automatically without conscious nervous stimulation.
ANATOMY OF A SKELETAL MUSCLE
[ ORIGIN ] ══════════════ [ BELLY ] ══════════════ [ INSERTION ]
(Fixed Anchor) (Fleshy Center) (Movable Attachment)
▲ │
└─────────── MASSAGE DIRECTION OF STROKE ──────────┘
(Insertion ➔ Origin)
The Three Parts of a Muscle
- Origin: The fixed, immovable attachment of the muscle anchored closest to the skeleton or immovable bone.
- Belly: The middle, thick, fleshy contractile portion of the muscle.
- Insertion: The movable attachment anchored farthest from the skeleton; attaches to movable skin, fascia, or movable bone.
Critical State Board Rule: In all cosmetology massage services (scalp massage, facial effleurage/petrissage, and neck/shoulder manipulation), pressure and massage strokes must ALWAYS be directed from the INSERTION toward the ORIGIN. Massaging against this direction (origin to insertion) overstretches muscle fibers, damages delicate cellular attachments, and promotes facial skin sagging.
Stimulation of Muscle Tissue
Muscular tissue can be stimulated through seven distinct modalities in salon services:
- Chemicals (properly formulated toners, masks, essential oils)
- Massage (effleurage, petrissage, tapotement, friction, vibration)
- Electrical Currents (Galvanic current, Microcurrent, High-Frequency Tesla)
- Light Therapy (Infrared light, LED blue/red light)
- Dry Heat (hot towels, heating lamps)
- Moist Heat (facial steamers, warm steam packs)
- Nerve Impulses (natural reflex actions via the nervous system)
Major Muscles of the Scalp, Face, and Neck
┌──────────────────────┬────────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ MUSCLE NAME │ ANATOMICAL REGION │ PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTION / SALON RELEVANCE │
├──────────────────────┼────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Epicranius │ Scalp (Top of cranium) │ Broad 2-part muscle covering skull top; │
│ (Occipitofrontalis) │ │ connected by Epicranial Aponeurosis. │
├──────────────────────┼────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Frontalis │ Scalp (Anterior) │ Raises eyebrows, draws scalp forward, │
│ │ │ creates horizontal forehead wrinkles. │
├──────────────────────┼────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Occipitalis │ Scalp (Posterior) │ Draws the scalp backward. │
├──────────────────────┼────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Epicranial │ Scalp (Tendon sheath) │ Flat broad tendon connecting the │
│ Aponeurosis │ │ Frontalis and Occipitalis muscles. │
├──────────────────────┼────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Auricularis (3) │ Ear (Superior/Ant/Post)│ Three tiny muscles around ear; limited │
│ │ │ movement of external auricle. │
├──────────────────────┼────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Orbicularis Oculi │ Eye orbit │ Ring muscle of eye socket; closes eye, │
│ │ │ blinks, winks, squints. │
├──────────────────────┼────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Corrugator │ Eyebrow (Medial brow) │ Draws eyebrow down and inward; causes │
│ (Supercilii) │ │ vertical forehead "frown lines". │
├──────────────────────┼────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Procerus │ Nose (Bridge) │ Lowers eyebrows; causes horizontal │
│ │ │ wrinkles across bridge of nose. │
├──────────────────────┼────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Orbicularis Oris │ Mouth (Lips) │ Circular muscle around mouth; puckers, │
│ │ │ compresses, and closes lips ("kissing"). │
├──────────────────────┼────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Buccinator │ Cheek (Between jaws) │ Compresses cheek, expels air ("blowing │
│ │ │ trumpet"), holds food between teeth. │
├──────────────────────┼────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Risorius │ Mouth (Angle of mouth) │ Draws mouth corner outward and backward │
│ │ │ ("grinning / false smile"). │
├──────────────────────┼────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Zygomaticus │ Cheek to Mouth Angle │ Major & Minor; elevates lip corners │
│ │ │ upward and backward ("laughing/smiling").│
├──────────────────────┼────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Mentalis │ Chin │ Elevates lower lip; raises and wrinkles │
│ │ │ chin skin ("pouting / doubt"). │
├──────────────────────┼────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Masseter & │ Lateral Jaw / Temple │ Muscles of mastication (chewing); open │
│ Temporalis │ │ and powerfully close the mandible. │
├──────────────────────┼────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Platysma │ Neck (Anterior/Lateral)│ Broad thin sheet extending from chest to │
│ │ │ chin; depresses lower jaw and lip. │
├──────────────────────┼────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Sternocleidomasto- │ Neck (Lateral ear to │ Extends from clavicle/sternum to mastoid │
│ ideus (SCM) │ clavicle/sternum) │ process; rotates, bows, and tilts head. │
├──────────────────────┼────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Trapezius │ Upper back and neck │ Large triangular muscle covering back of │
│ │ │ neck and mid-back; elevates shoulders. │
└──────────────────────┴────────────────────────┴──────────────────────────────────────────┘
2. Practical Cosmetology Applications
- Facial Treatments & Anti-Aging: Understanding the insertion and origin of the zygomaticus, frontalis, and platysma allows the esthetician/cosmetologist to apply lifting petrissage and effleurage movements that support natural muscular tone rather than elongating connective tissues.
- Scalp Manipulations: Firm circular friction over the epicranial aponeurosis, frontalis, and occipitalis stimulates microcirculation, relaxes the galea tendon, relieves tension headaches, and promotes cellular oxygenation to follicular dermal papillae.
- Client Consultation & Bone Landmarks: Identifying the occipital bone, parietal ridge, and temporal areas is essential for establishing reference points when designing precision graduated or layered haircuts.
3. Muscles of the Arm and Hand
| Muscle | Action |
|---|---|
| Deltoid | Large triangular shoulder muscle that lifts and turns the arm |
| Biceps | Two-headed muscle on the front of the upper arm; flexes the forearm and turns the palm up |
| Triceps | Three-headed muscle covering the back of the upper arm; extends the forearm |
| Pronator | Turns the hand inward so the palm faces downward |
| Supinator | Turns the hand outward so the palm faces upward |
| Flexors | Bend the wrist, draw the hand up and close the fingers |
| Extensors | Straighten the wrist, hand and fingers |
| Abductors | Separate the fingers |
| Adductors | Draw the fingers together |
Abductors and adductors are located at the base of the thumb and fingers, which is why a thorough manicure massage includes work through the web spaces and around the thenar eminence at the base of the thumb.
4. Muscles of the Leg and Foot
| Muscle | Action |
|---|---|
| Gastrocnemius | The prominent calf muscle; flexes the sole of the foot |
| Soleus | Lies beneath the gastrocnemius; bends the foot down |
| Tibialis anterior | Runs along the front of the shin; covers the front of the shin bone and flexes the foot upward and inward |
| Peroneus longus and brevis | Along the outer lower leg; turn the foot outward |
| Extensor digitorum longus | Bends the foot up and extends the toes |
| Flexor digitorum brevis | Moves the toes and helps maintain balance in walking and standing |
| Abductor and adductor hallucis | Move the great toe away from and toward the other toes |
Pedicure massage typically works the plantar surface and the gastrocnemius and soleus with effleurage and petrissage, always from the foot toward the knee — that is, from insertion toward origin, following venous and lymphatic return.
5. Massage Direction and Safety
Three professional rules follow directly from muscle anatomy, and all three appear on exams.
- Direction: insertion to origin. The origin is the fixed attachment; the insertion is the movable one. Working toward the origin supports the attachment rather than dragging on it. On the face and scalp this generally means upward and outward.
- Pressure over muscle, not bone. Ease pressure over the mandible, zygomatic arch, patella, tibial crest and calcaneus.
- Know when not to massage. Contraindications include inflamed or broken skin, active infection, recent injury or surgery, uncontrolled high blood pressure, and — for the lower leg specifically — any client with diabetes or circulatory disease, where vigorous massage and any implement that could abrade the skin must be avoided. Remember that anything beyond light massage of the surface layers of soft tissue for the purpose of beautification is outside the appearance enhancement licence under 19 NYCRR § 160.27(b).
Test Your Knowledge
Which muscle is responsible for drawing the eyebrow down and inward, producing vertical wrinkles between the brows (frowning)?
A
B
C
D
Test Your Knowledge
In which direction should professional massage manipulations be performed, and why?
A
B
C
D
Test Your Knowledge
Which muscle covers the top of the skull and consists of two parts joined by a tendon?
A
B
C
D