Muscles of the Face (facial muscles)

1. Before you read the extract discuss the functions of the muscles of the face and head. What kinds of functions do the perform? What actions or expressions would be impossible if they didn’t work?

2. Now read this written extract from "The Skeleton and Movement" and then explain in your own words what is happening when we smile, frown or speak.

The Natural World

Facial expressions are an important part of our everyday language. We can use expressions to signal our mood or feelings without using words. A smile, a frown, a wrinkled nose, or a raised eyebrow can all be used to convey a message without speaking. They also form an important part of most conversations. We give out these signals continuously, and read them in the faces of other people, usually without any conscious thought.

All of these examples of ‘facial language’ are controlled by the muscles of the face. There are more than thirty facial muscles, most of them attached to both the skull and the skin.

Some have very specialised purposes. The muscles running from the side of the face to the corner of the mouth pulls up the corner of the mouth to make us smile.

Another muscle runs in a flat ring around the eye, allowing the eye to be screwed up or narrowed to protect it from bright light.

Across the forehead is a single sheet of muscle which wrinkles the forehead in a frown, and also helps to raise the eyebrows.

The lips are controlled by a group of muscles that produce the small and accurate movements necessary for speech. The lips are the most mobile part of the face, and can be moved in different ways.

From The Skeleton and Movement (The Human Body Series).

By Brian R. Ward and Franklin Watts

3. Read the text again and decide if these statements are true or false:

1. We convey messages through facial expressions all the time.

2. About 15 facial muscles are joined to the skull and the skin.

3. When we frown, we raise our eyebrows.

4. The lips move about more than other parts of the face.

Getting to know you

Reading Silent Speech

Introduction

1. Match these adjectives describing posture to each person.

round-shouldered, slouched, straight-backed, cowering

2. Does posture tell you anything about a person? Use some of these adjectives to speculate about each person’s personality.

aggressive	lively	calm	dominant
expansive	flirtatious	insecure	nervous
self-confident	submissive	tense	outgoing

Reading

Multiple-choice questions

1. What does the expression ‘silent speech’ convey to you? In pairs, compare your ideas. Read the introductory text to the magazine article to see if you are right.

2. Now skim read the whole article. As you read, think about these questions:

   • Why is body language so important?

   • How can it be used to your advantage?