• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.221-228
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• 2008

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to understand the anatomical basis of the facial muscles and to apply this knowledge on the clinical practice of facial acupuncture. Methods : We searched both contemporary and the latest literatures on the practical application of facial muscle anatomy on Facial Acupuncture. Conclusions : Facial Acupuncture improves skin tone, texture and wrinkling by assisting the circulation of Ki. It stimulates the facial muscles directly to undo the stagnation of the meridians. To practice Facial Acupuncture, thorough understanding of facial anatomy is required. In this study the muscles of the head and neck, appropriate depth and angle of acupuncture needle, etc. were reviewed. The upper facial muscles including frontalis, procerus, corrugator supercilii and orbicularis oculi, the mid facial muscles including auricularis, nasalis, levator labii superioris, zygomaticus and so on, and the lower facial muscles including orbicularis oris, depressor labii inferioris, depressor anguli oris, mentalis and platysma etc. were reviewed in this study. For safer and more effective use of Facial Acupuncture, further study on the objective outcome of the technique should be done.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.279-287
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• 2013

Objective: To investigate the dentoskeletal factors which may predict soft-tissue chin strain during lip closure. Methods: The pretreatment frontal and lateral facial photographs and lateral cephalograms of 209 women (aged 18-30 years) with Angle's Class I or II malocclusion were examined. The subjects were categorized by three examiners into the no-strain and strain groups according to the soft-tissue chin tension or deformation during lip closure. Relationships of the cephalometric measurements with the group classification were analyzed by logistic regression analysis, and a classification and regression tree (CART) model was used to define the predictive variables for the group classification. Results: The lower the value of the overbite depth indicator (ODI) and the higher the values of upper incisor to Nasion-Pogonion (U1-NPog, mm), overjet, and upper incisor to upper lip (U1-upper lip, mm), the more likely was the subject to be classified into the strain group. The CART showed that U1-NPog was the most prominent predictor of soft-tissue chin strain (cut-off value of 14.2 mm), followed by overjet. Conclusions: To minimize strain of the soft-tissue chin, orthodontic treatment should be oriented toward increasing the ODI value while decreasing the U1-NPog, overjet, and U1 upper lip values.

• Anatomy and Cell Biology
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.278-287
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• 2024

Striated muscle insertions into the skin and mucosa are present in the head, neck, and pelvic floor. We reexamined the histology of these tissues to elucidate their role in transmission of the force. We examined histological sections of 25 human fetuses (gestational ages of ~11-19 weeks and ~26-40 weeks) and 6 cadavers of elderly individuals. Facial muscle insertion or terminal almost always formed as an interdigitation with another muscle or as a circular arrangement in which muscle fiber insertions were sandwiched and mechanically supported by other muscle fibers (like an in-series muscle). Our examination of the face revealed some limited exceptions in which muscle fibers that approached the dermis were always in the nasalis and mentalis muscles, and often in the levator labii superioris alaeque nasi muscle. The buccinator muscle was consistently inserted into the basement membrane of the oral mucosa. Parts of the uvulae muscle in the soft palate and of the intrinsic vertical muscle of the tongue were likely to direct toward the mucosa. In contrast, the pelvic floor did not contain striated muscle fibers that were directed toward the skin or mucosa. Although 'cutaneous muscle' is a common term, the actual insertion of a muscle into the skin or mucosa seemed to be very rare. Instead, superficial muscle insertion often consisted of interdigitated muscle bundles that had different functional vectors. In this case, the terminal of one muscle bundle was sandwiched and fixed mechanically by other bundles.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.317-324
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• 2009

This study aimed to assess stiffness and elasticity of the masticatory muscle in the patients with the masticatory muscle pain using a tactile sensor and to investigate whether the masticatory muscle pain affects the facial expression muscles. From those who visited Department of Oral Medicine in Dankook University Dental Hospital, 27 patients presenting with unilateral muscle pain and tenderness in the masseter muscle (Ms) were selected (mean age: $36.4{\pm}13.8$ years). Exclusion criterion was those who also had temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders or any neurological pain. Muscle stiffness and elasticity for the muscles of mastication and facial expression was investigated with the tactile sensor (Venustron, Axiom Co., JAPAN) and the muscles measured were the Ms, anterior temporal muscle (Ta), frontalis (Fr), inferior orbicularis oculi (Ooci), zygomaticus major (Zm), superior and inferior orbicularis oris (Oors, Oori) and mentalis (Mn). t-tests was used to compare side difference in muscle stiffness and elasticity. Side differences were also compared between diagnostic groups (local muscle soreness (LMS) vs myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) and between acute (< 6M) and chronic ($\geq$ 6M) groups. This study showed that Ms and Zm at affected side exhibited significantly increased stiffness and decreased elasticity as compared to the unaffected side.(p<0.05) There was no significant difference between local muscle soreness and myofascial pain syndrome groups and between acute and chronic groups. The results of this study suggests that masticatory muscle pain in Ms can affect muscle stiffness and elasticity not only for Ms but also for Zm, the facial expression muscle.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.85-95
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of oral habits on the muscles of mastication and facial expression by means of two parameters: muscle stiffness and elasticity. 10 healthy, fully-dentate male subjects in their twenties were selected for this study; all had normal Class I occlusal relationships. Muscle stiffness and elasticity were measured with a tactile sensor(Venustron, Axiom Co., JAPAN) while subjects were asked to relax and perform various parafunctional activities such unilateral clenching(biting the bite force recorder with a force of 50kg on each subject's preferred side), jaw thrusting and lip bracing. The following muscles were examined: temporalis anterior(Ta), masseter(Mm), frontalis(Fr), inferior orbicularis oculi(OOci), zygomaticus major(Zm), superior and inferior orbularis oris(OOrs and OOri) and mentalis(Mn). Paired t-test, Correlation Coefficients, ANOVA and Multiple Comparison t-tests were used for statistical analysis. Unilateral clenching was highly correlated with bilateral stiffness and elasticity of all the muscles tested. Mm was affected by all three oral habits; Ta was affected by unilateral clenching(p<0.05); Zm was affected by unilateral clenching and OOrs, OOri and Mn were most affected by lip bracing(p<0.05). This study indicates that not only the masticatory muscles but also the muscles of facial expression, mainly circumoral muscles, can be significantly influenced by parafunctional activities such as unilateral clenching and lip bracing.