Facial muscles
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The facial muscles are a group of striated skeletal muscles supplied by the facial nerve that, among other things, control facial expression. These muscles are also called mimetic muscles. They are on
Lateral head anatomy
Pharyngeal arch
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The pharyngeal arches, also known as visceral arches, are transient structures seen in the embryonic development of humans and other vertebrates, that are recognisable precursors for many structures.
Facial muscles
…are also supplied by the facial nerve, but are not considered muscles of facial expression. The facial muscles are derived from the second branchial/pharyngeal arch. They, like the branchial arches, originally derive from neural crest cells. In humans, they typically begin forming around the eighth week of embryonic…
Schematic of developing pharyngeal arches and pouches in the human embryo at seried Carnegie stages (CS)
Scheme of the pharyngeal arches
Scheme of the pharyngeal arches I–IV: pharyngeal arches 1–4: pharyngeal pouches (inside) and/or pharyngeal grooves (outside) a: Tuberculum laterale b: Tuberculum impar c: Foramen cecum d: Ductus thyreoglossus e: Sinus cervicalis
Schematic view of the pharyngeal (branchial) arches of an early gnathostome.