Face

The face is the front part of the head, extending from the hairline to the chin. It contains the eyes, nose, mouth, teeth, and eyelids. The face performs vital functions—breathing, eating, and sight—alongside social functions such as recognition and emotional expression.

The structure of the face is built on bone, muscle, and connective tissue. The bones of the face form a set called the viscerocranium, which includes the upper jawbone (maxilla) and the lower jawbone (mandible), the latter being the only major moving bone.

Bones and muscles

The facial bones form the eye sockets, nasal cavity, and oral cavity. The lower jawbone is attached to the temporal bone by a hinged joint that allows movement for chewing and speaking. The muscles of the face are divided into two types: the muscles of facial expression, attached to the skin, and the muscles of mastication, which move the jaw.

Sensation and movement

Sensation in the skin of the face is supplied by the trigeminal nerve (the fifth cranial nerve). Movement of the facial muscles is controlled by the facial nerve (the seventh cranial nerve). Damage to this nerve causes one side of the face to droop, a condition known as Bell's palsy.

Recognition and social feeling

People recognize individuals by their faces, and the brain has an area specialized for analyzing faces. Facial expressions of emotion—such as smiling, anger, or surprise—are regarded as having universal elements, though their interpretation and rules of use vary across cultures.