title: New anatomic considerations on the levator labii superioris related with the nasal ala.
abstract: The levator labii superioris (LLS) muscle is well known as one of the upper-lip elevators; however, there have been few reports about the anatomic description of the LLS. Especially, the shape of the LLS and its relationship with the nasal ala were not clearly shown in the literature. The aim of this study was to clarify and describe the morphology and topography of the LLS and the anatomic variations to understand the function of the LLS related with the nasal ala. The LLS was examined in 102 specimens of embalmed Korean and French adult cadavers. The LLS was classified into 3 categories according to its shape and attachment: rectangular (83%), fan (10%), or trapezoid (7%) type. The medial fibers of the LLS were attached to the deep surface of the alar facial crease and were mainly intermingled with the alar part of the nasalis. Some of the deeper muscle fibers of the LLS extended to the vestibular skin of the nasal lobule. These new anatomic findings in the current study could be useful information for understanding the function of the LLS and the various surgical procedures of the perinasal region.
authors.affiliation: Division in Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Department of Oral Biology, Oral Science Research Center, Human Identification Research Center, Brain Korea 21 Project, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Mi-Sun
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Hur
authors.forename: Kwan-Hyun
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Youn
authors.forename: Kyung-Seok
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Wu-Chul
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Ki-Seok
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fontaine
authors.forename: Hee-Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002102:Cadaver; D005152:Facial Muscles / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008046:Lip; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009666:Nose / Q000033:anatomy & histology*