Mentalis Muscle Beneath The Skin, Lateral View

Description

Seen in profile, the mentalis muscle sits in the midline of the anterior chin, deep to the skin and immediately inferior to the lower lip crease (mentolabial sulcus). Its short, vertical fibers rise from the anterior mandible in the region of the incisive fossa and course superiorly toward the dermis of the chin, anterior to the mandibular symphysis and inferior to the orbicularis oris. The pogonion marks the most anterior point of the bony chin deep to the soft tissues, helping anchor surface anatomy to the underlying mandible. Small but specific. This lateral view matters because mentalis position and fiber direction explain both normal chin contour and common iatrogenic contour changes after surgery. During lower lip and chin procedures, including genioplasty, mentalis resuspension, and submental approaches, detachment or inadequate reattachment can lead to chin ptosis and deepening of the mentolabial fold, while hyperactivity contributes to a pebbled “orange peel” appearance and lower lip incompetence in some patients. Chemodenervation planning also depends on appreciating how close the muscle lies to the midline and how its pull elevates and everts the lower lip rather than retracting it. Use this asset for head and neck anatomy teaching in dental, ENT, and plastic surgery curricula, or as figure support in chapters on perioral musculature, facial aging, and botulinum toxin injection technique around the chin. It also fits clinical patient education materials explaining postoperative chin droop or contour irregularities after mandibular symphysis work. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.