Abstract
The mentalis muscle is now considered key structures when performing procedures for rejuvenating the lower face. The aim of this study was to determine the anatomical morphology and location of the mentalis muscle and thereby provide anatomical information for facilitating clinical procedures designed to rejuvenate the lower face. Forty-four adult hemifaces from five Thai cadavers and 21 Korean cadavers were dissected to identify the locations of the mentalis muscle. Sixty-six hemifaces from 33 healthy young Korean subjects were included in an ultrasonographic study. The depth of the mentalis muscle below the skin surface, the thickness of the mentalis muscle, and the distance from the bone to the mentalis muscle were measured at the two points that were 5 mm lateral to the most-prominent point of the chin. The mentalis muscle was classified into two types based to its shape: in type A (86.4%, 38 of the 44 cases) it was dome shaped in three dimensions, while in type B (13.6%, 6 of the 44 cases) it was flat. The mentalis muscle was present mostly at the area 5–10 mm from the midsagittal line and 20–30 mm from a horizontal line connecting the mouth corners. The mentalis muscle was present between depths of 6.7 to 10.7 mm below the skin. This new information about the location of the mentalis muscle may help when identifying the most effective and safe botulinum toxin injection points and depths during esthetic procedures for weakened facial rhytides on the lower face.
Highlights
The various morphologies exhibited by the mentalis muscle specimens could be classified into two types
In type A (86.4%, 38 of the 44 cases), the mentalis muscle was dome shaped in three dimensions, and this type could be further divided into two subtypes: type A-1, merging (47.7%, n = 21); and type A-2, separate (38.6%, n = 17)
It is important to have a good understanding of the three-dimensional morphology of facial expression muscles in various clinical applications, including when performing minimally invasive procedures and surgical procedures
Summary
The mentalis muscle is paired with dome-shaped muscles of the central lower lip. It originates from the anterior mandible at the level below the attached gingiva and is attached to the skin of the chin. The mentalis muscle elevates soft tissue of the mentum area and supports the proper position and movement of the lower lip. Problems with these functions can cause the lower central incisors to be visible in the resting position, or impair denture stability [1,3,4]
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