Mentalis

Mentalis
Muscles of the head, face, and neck.
Details
Origin	anterior mandible
Insertion	chin
Nerve	mandibular branch of facial nerve
Actions	elevates and wrinkles skin of chin, protrudes lower lip
Identifiers
Latin	musculus mentalis
Dorlands /Elsevier	m_22/12549795
TA	A04.1.03.037
FMA	46825
Anatomical terms of muscle []

The mentalis is a paired central muscle of the lower lip, situated at the tip of the chin. It originates from the mentum and inserts into the chin soft tissue. The primary effect of the mentalis contraction is the upward-inward movement of the soft tissue complex of the chin, which raises the central portion of the lips in turn. In the setting of lip incompetence (the upper and lower lips do not touch each other at rest), the mentalis muscle contraction can bring temporary but strained oral competence.

In conjunction with orbicularis contraction, the mentalis muscle allows the lips to "pout." Externally, mentalis contraction causes wrinkling of the chin skin, as used in expressions of doubt or displeasure. It is sometimes referred to as the "pouting muscle."

Geniospasm is a genetic movement disorder of the mentalis muscle.

Outer surface of mandible. Mentalis is indicated by the red circle at left.

Position of mentalis (red).

Action of the mentalis muscle.