The superior labial branches (labial branches), the largest and most numerous, descend behind the
quadratus labii superioris
The levator labii superioris (pl. ''levatores labii superioris'', also called quadratus labii superioris, pl. ''quadrati labii superioris'') is a muscle of the human body used in facial expression. It is a broad sheet, the origin of which exten ...
, and are distributed to the skin of the
upper lip
The lips are the visible body part at the mouth of many animals, including humans. Lips are soft, movable, and serve as the opening for food intake and in the articulation of sound and speech. Human lips are a tactile sensory organ, and can be ...
, the
mucous membrane
A mucous membrane or mucosa is a membrane that lines various cavities in the body of an organism and covers the surface of internal organs. It consists of one or more layers of epithelial cells overlying a layer of loose connective tissue. It is ...
of the
mouth
In animal anatomy, the mouth, also known as the oral cavity, or in Latin cavum oris, is the opening through which many animals take in food and issue vocal sounds. It is also the cavity lying at the upper end of the alimentary canal, bounded on ...
, and
labial glands
The labial glands are minor salivary glands situated between the mucous membrane and the orbicularis oris around the orifice of the mouth.
They are circular in form, and about the size of small peas; their ducts open by minute orifices upon the mu ...
.
They are joined, immediately beneath the orbit, by filaments from the
facial nerve
The facial nerve, also known as the seventh cranial nerve, cranial nerve VII, or simply CN VII, is a cranial nerve that emerges from the pons of the brainstem, controls the muscles of facial expression, and functions in the conveyance of tas ...
, forming with them the
infraorbital plexus
The superior labial branches descend behind the Quadratus labii superioris, and are distributed to the skin of the upper lip, the mucous membrane of the mouth, and labial glands. They are joined, immediately beneath the orbit, by filaments from th ...
.
See also
*
Superior labial artery
The superior labial artery (superior labial branch of facial artery) is larger and more egregious than the inferior labial artery.
It follows a similar course along the edge of the upper lip, lying between the mucous membrane and the orbicularis ...
External links
Maxillary nerve
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