Anatomy and Physiology
Bones and muscles of the face
Facial bones: frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital, zygomatic (cheekbone), maxillae (upper jaw), mandible (lower jaw - the only movable bone), nasal. The masseter and temporalis are muscles of mastication. Muscles of expression you name and massage include frontalis, corrugator, procerus, orbicularis oculi, orbicularis oris, zygomaticus, buccinator, mentalis, and platysma.
Nerves - the classic trap
- Facial nerve (VII) is motor: it moves the muscles of expression. Damage causes paralysis.
- Trigeminal nerve (V) is sensory, with three branches: ophthalmic, maxillary, mandibular.
A stem describing "sensation over the cheek" is trigeminal; "inability to smile" is facial. Do not swap them.
Circulation and lymph
The common carotid divides into internal (brain) and external (face) branches; the facial and superficial temporal arteries supply the face. Lymph drains to preauricular, postauricular, submandibular, submental, and deep cervical nodes. Effleurage moves toward those nodes with light pressure.
Other high-yield facts: skin is the largest organ (integumentary system); arteries carry blood away from the heart and veins toward it; sebaceous glands attach to hair follicles. Nervous, endocrine, and circulatory health all change how skin looks and how much treatment it tolerates.
Traps: calling the mandible immovable, deep-massaging lymph nodes, and confusing arteries with veins.
Rule of thumb: VII moves the face, V feels the face; lymph moves light and toward the nodes.