Anatomy, Physiology and Skin Structure
Barbering anatomy is applied: bones and muscles give you landmarks, nerves and vessels tell you where to work safely, and skin structure explains how products act.
Bones: the cranium includes the frontal, parietal (two), temporal (two), occipital, sphenoid and ethmoid. The face includes the mandible, maxillae, zygomatic, nasal, lacrimal, vomer, palatine and inferior conchae. The parietal ridge and occipital bone are the landmarks most used in cutting.
Muscles: frontalis, temporalis, occipitalis, masseter, zygomaticus, buccinator, orbicularis oculi, orbicularis oris, platysma, sternocleidomastoid, and the trapezius. Muscles produce movement; massage strokes are directed toward the heart along venous flow.
Nerves: the trigeminal (V) is the chief sensory nerve of the face; the facial (VII) is the chief motor nerve. The greater occipital, supraorbital, infraorbital and mental nerves are the ones most often named. Blood: common carotid divides into internal and external; the temporal and facial arteries supply the head and face.
Skin: epidermis (stratum corneum, lucidum, granulosum, spinosum, basale - avascular), dermis (nerves, vessels, glands, follicles), and subcutaneous layer. Appendages include the follicle, sebaceous gland, sudoriferous gland and nail.
Physiology: cells, tissues, organs, systems; metabolism and homeostasis.
Traps: swapping sensory and motor nerves, calling the epidermis vascular, or massaging away from the heart. Rule of thumb: trigeminal = feeling, facial = movement.