How to Sketch Facial Muscles: Capture Realism and Expression

This guide helps artists understand facial muscle anatomy for more accurate portrait work.


我在寫生模特過程,很常不小心畫過頭,少女臉上像長鬍子或是皺紋畫太強變大媽🙂‍↕️

因此好奇臉部肌肉起伏位置,後半段整理了臉部肌肉特徵及知識點,跟著一起往下看喔

After understanding the shapes of facial muscles, you can apply this knowledge to portrait sketching by placing highlights and shadows in key areas to emphasize form and depth.

●為什麼要學臉部肌肉?

  • 臉部是情緒表現的主要舞台,細節能傳遞角色情緒與性格。
  • 繪畫不只是描繪表面的形狀,建議理解底層的肌肉運動邏輯

●臉部主要肌肉介紹:

額頭部位

額肌

  • 收縮形成抬眉、驚訝表情。
  • 排線方向:垂直排列為主。

Location: Forehead. Function: Raises the eyebrows and creates forehead wrinkles. Often involved in expressions of surprise (wide-open eyes).

眉心與鼻根部位

降眉肌、皺眉肌、降間肌

  • 產生皺眉、憤怒表情。
  • 排線方向:垂直集中眉心、放射狀擴散。

眼睛周圍部位

● Orbicularis Oculi (Sphincter Muscle)

  • 控制眨眼、閉眼、瞇眼。
  • 排線方向:環繞眼睛呈環狀、橢圓排列。

Location: Encircles the eye. Function: Closes the eyelids and controls blinking. Natural wrinkles around this area appear with smiling.

眼輪匝肌可分為兩大部份:

  • 眶部
項目內容
起點1. 眶骨內側緣 2. 泪囊脊
3. 眼眶眶緣周圍骨性邊緣
止點1. 眶外側韌帶
2. 與瞼部纖維交織形成完整環狀
功能1. 強力閉眼(如「擠眼」、用力眨眼)2. 保護眼球、排淚
輔助圖文肌纖維呈放射狀,由骨緣向外側交會於側眶韌帶- 畫擠眼時,眉下與顴上會出現深刻放射狀皺紋
  • 瞼部
項目內容
起點內側瞼韌帶附近
止點外側瞼韌帶
功能輕柔眨眼(不帶皺紋的自然眨眼,維持淚膜分佈與睫毛清潔)
輔助圖文– 位於上下瞼板之上,肌纖維近乎水平走向- 自然眨眼時,僅此部收縮,眼周無大皺紋

臉頰與顴骨部位

顴大肌、顴小肌

  • 產生微笑時嘴角上提。
  • 排線方向:由顴骨往嘴角斜向下方延伸。

Location: Extends from the cheekbone to the corner of the mouth. Function: Elevates the corners of the mouth, creating smiles—a key muscle for depicting joyful expressions.

嘴部周圍部位

● Orbicularis Oris (Sphincter Muscle)

  • 嘟嘴、收縮嘴唇表情。
  • 排線方向:嘴巴環繞呈橢圓形。

    口輪匝肌並非單一「起點→止點」的帶狀肌( 通常指的是「骨骼肌」,也就是和骨骼相連、受意識控制的肌肉,負責身體的運動),而是透過深淺兩層纖維
  • 深層纖維源自上下頜齒槽,繞口唇一周後走向對側;
  • 淺層纖維則由周邊多條表情肌的肌束匯合於口角結節(modiolus),再環繞於唇部。

Location: Surrounds the lips. Function: Controls the opening and closing of the mouth, essential for portraying speech, whistling, or puckering.

● Depressor Anguli Oris

Location: At both corners of the mouth. Function: Pulls the corners of the mouth downward, conveying sadness or dissatisfaction.

  • 嘴角下拉,產生悲傷或不滿的表情。
  • 排線方向:由嘴角向下方垂直延伸。

下顎與臉頰側面部位

● Masseter Muscle

  • 咀嚼時的明顯起伏感,臉頰側邊明顯突出。
  • 排線方向:垂直排列居多,強調肌肉隆起的立體感。

Location: Side of the face (cheek area). Function: Closes the jaw, playing a major role in chewing or clenching the teeth.

● Temporalis Muscle

Location: On the sides of the skull. Function: Controls jaw movement, especially opening and closing. Feature: The temporalis muscle fans out along both sides of the skull, aiding in jaw movement.
Location: On the sides of the skull. Function: Controls jaw movement, especially opening and closing. Feature: The temporalis muscle fans out along both sides of the skull, aiding in jaw movement.

●肌肉群協作與複合表情分析

表情通常由數組肌肉共同作用形成。

例如:

  • 微笑(顴大肌+口輪匝肌+眼輪匝肌)
  • 憤怒(皺眉肌+降眉肌+降口角肌)
  • 驚訝(額肌+眼輪匝肌放鬆+口輪匝肌放鬆)

額頭與眉區肌肉

額肌:往上拉 → 驚訝表情

皺眉肌、降眉肌:往下拉眉頭 → 生氣或專注

「眼部緊閉、眉心深皺」

的動作主要靠以下幾條肌肉協同收縮:

  • 降眉肌 一收縮→眉頭內聚、垂直皺紋浮現。

Dorsal Fin (Top Fin)::眉毛內側下方,貼於前額皮下。

動作:收縮時向內下拉眉毛,夾緊眉間皮膚,形成兩條或一條垂直的「川」字皺紋。

效果:加深眉間凹陷,是典型的“生氣/用力皺眉”動作主力。

  • 皺鼻肌 同時收縮→鼻樑處橫向皺摺加重。
  • 眼輪匝肌(瞼部)→眼皮緊閉、眼縫極度狹小。

動作:輕度、自然的眨眼/半閉眼,使眼皮貼住眼球。

在此動作中:為了緊繃眼周,瞼部會先收縮,讓眼縫變小。

  • 眼輪匝肌(眶部)→外眥處拉出魚尾紋,眉下、顴上產生放射皺褶。

動作:強力擠眼時,從眶骨邊緣向外拉扯,產生眼角放射狀細紋。

在此動作中:眶部大面積收縮,連帶牽動眉下皮膚,讓外眼角、顴部也出現皺褶。

表情畫法建議:觀察眉毛夾角變化額頭皺摺方向

眼周肌群

  • 眼輪匝肌:包覆眼睛,閉眼或瞇眼時收縮
  • 提上瞼肌(未畫出):控制張眼
  • 描繪建議:閉眼時上眼皮壓下,下眼瞼會鼓出

鼻子周圍肌群

  • 降鼻肌、提上唇鼻翼肌:影響鼻翼張力、皺鼻表情
  • 可延伸補充:吸氣、噁心、嫌棄表情來源

嘴唇與頰部肌群

  • 口輪匝肌:收縮嘴唇形成圓狀(如嘟嘴、吹氣)

「嘟嘴」主要是靠口輪匝肌的不同纖維層協同收縮,再搭配頦肌的輔助。具體動作細節如下:

  1. 口輪匝肌深層 (上唇門齒肌) 纖維收縮
    • 深層纖維環繞在唇內側,拉緊唇邊,讓上下唇向中線靠攏,形成「狹縫」。
  2. 口輪匝肌淺層 (下唇門齒肌) 纖維收縮
    • 淺層纖維環繞在唇外側,推動唇瓣向前突出,使唇緣翻卷並向外拱起。
  1. 頦肌輔助
    • 位於下唇正中央,收縮時會向上擠壓下唇,增強下唇的凸度,並加強唇部整體的前突效果。
  2. 頰肌輕度收縮
    • 輔助穩定頰部壓力,使口腔內氣壓更集中在唇前,讓唇形更飽滿均勻。
  • 提嘴角肌、笑肌:上提嘴角(開心、禮貌)
  • 降嘴角肌、頦肌:悲傷、下垂感
  • 表情畫法建議:多觀察嘴角肌肉方向箭頭與比例變化

下巴與側頸肌群

  • 頦肌:與頜部緊縮有關,表達哀傷、忍耐等情緒
  • 胸鎖乳突肌:雖屬頸部肌肉,但表現緊張、發聲狀態的重要線條
  • 描繪建議:誇張表情下,脖子肌肉明顯拉出線條張力

如何練習:從肌肉圖走向表情觀察

建議操作方式如下:

  1. 臉部空白結構圖疊肌肉層(像示範圖那樣分層)
  2. 做出 3~5 種典型情緒:快樂/生氣/驚訝/哀傷/厭惡
  3. 箭頭示意每個肌肉收縮方向,並將表情拆解成肌肉動作來源
  4. 搭配鏡子/自拍照觀察自己的肌肉動作(尤其是嘴角與眉心)

進階應用建議:動態與角色設計連結

  • 表情非靜止,而是肌肉動作的連續變化
  • 建議延伸學習:
    • 把「高興」拆成:微笑 → 大笑 → 皺眉笑
    • 每一階段觀察:哪些肌肉主動、哪些是被動牽動


I hope this breakdown helps you better understand and appreciate facial muscle structures. If you have any questions or would like to explore specific topics, feel free to leave a comment or message me. Happy drawing!

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Other Related Portrait Sketching Articles:

How to Draw Arms: Learn Arm Movements and Bone Proportions

How to Draw Ears:Simplified Ear Structure and Shading Tips

How to Use Two-Tone Shading: Simple Shadow Techniques

How to Draw Masks: Use Perspective and Shadows

How to Accurately Master Hand Proportions and Joint Structure

Building Up from Simple Contours to Detailed Eye Portraits

Capturing Realism in Lip Drawing: Key Structures and Shading

Understanding the Three Key Elements of Head Structure

Mastering the basic proportions and structure of portrait drawing

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Han
Han

Chiu Po-Han - drawing instructor | Art studio teacher | Independent contractor |

Work Experience:
2017-2022: Taught at Paniel Art Studio for five years
2023-2025 Instructor at Htoh Art Studio
2023: External Art Teacher at Feng Xin High School Art Class

About Me: I specialize in guiding students to develop their interest in learning fundamental drawing and watercolor techniques. I also assist students in successfully applying to art and design schools.

I firmly believe that through the process of creating art, students can learn the logical steps of drawing, refine their techniques, and cultivate perseverance. Drawing is not just a skill but an enriching and worthwhile investment of one's time and energy.