Levator Labii Superioris

Description

Oriented in a lateral profile of an adult male head and upper cervical spine, the levator labii superioris is isolated over the maxilla, running inferiorly from the infraorbital margin toward the upper lip where it blends with the orbicularis oris and the soft tissues of the philtrum. Medial to it, the levator labii superioris alaeque nasi tracks alongside the nasal sidewall, arising from the frontal process of the maxilla and descending to the alar cartilage and upper lip. Blue-rendered nasal cartilages, including the septal cartilage and lateral nasal cartilages, sit anterior to the nasal aperture, while the maxillary dentition and mandible provide firm inferior and posterior landmarks. Upper cervical vertebrae appear posterior and inferior to the skull base. Facial expression and nasal valve mechanics intersect here. Elevation of the upper lip and dilation of the nostril depend on these elevators, a point that matters when planning incisions for alar base reduction, cleft lip revisions, or midface approaches that course near the infraorbital foramen. Injury or local anesthetic spread around the infraorbital nerve can weaken upper lip elevation and alter the nasolabial crease. Small muscle, visible consequence. Medical educators can drop this figure into head and neck anatomy teaching to connect bony origins on the maxilla with soft-tissue insertions that shape the nasolabial region. It also fits operative atlases and patient-facing materials for rhinoplasty and perioral reconstruction, where the relationship between alar cartilage, nasal septum, and the levator labii superioris alaeque nasi often needs to be stated plainly. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.