Platysma muscle

Platysma ( gr πλάτυσμα " plate ") is the anatomical term for a skin muscle (musculus cutaneous ) of the neck. The muscle is located between the skin and the superficial cervical fascia, so it has no direct contact with the skeleton. It can be associated with the facial muscles.

Man

In humans, the platysma originates in the region of the upper thorax and moves in with his chin and cheeks.

It is active in startle response or a tense facial expressions, he arches the skin and can pull the lower jaw or sometimes even the corners of the mouth downward. Few people are capable, however, of using it consciously. For old people with sagging skin of the medial edge ( located towards the center ) of the platysma both sides is visible as longitudinal folds in the front of the neck. Is Innervated the platysma by the facial nerve.

Neck skin muscles of Pets

When the pets a platysma occurs only in carnivores (dog, cat) and in pigs. Here it does not end on the thorax, but pulls back -up to the neckline.

When predators it is completed by two additional neck skin muscles. The sphincter colli superficialis consists of transverse muscle fibers, and extends to the entire area between the lower jaw and chest. The muscle is aimed at tightening the skin at the neck base. The sphincter colli profundus of predators is below the platysma in the area of the parotid gland ( gland regions ).

In ungulates no platysma is formed. A skin muscle is formed with them only in the posterior neck area and is referred to as cutaneous colli muscle. It is made oblique muscle, which cover the rear part of the choke groove.