A Muscle Alongside the Nose
The name levator labii superioris alaeque nasi describes what the muscle does: it lifts the upper lip and the wing of the nose. It runs down beside the nose from the upper jaw and attaches to soft tissue around the nostril and upper lip. Because it connects these nearby areas, one contraction can tug on both.
How One Pull Changes the Face
When the muscle tightens, it raises the inner part of the upper lip and helps draw the nostril wider. The result can look like a wrinkled nose, especially when other facial muscles contract at the same time. Expressions are coordinated movements, not the work of a single muscle acting alone; the familiar reaction to an unpleasant odor involves a broader set of facial motions.
The muscle’s position also makes it useful for subtle movements around the nostrils and upper lip. Small shifts there can change the shape of the opening through which air passes and alter the expression around the nose—without requiring a large movement of the jaw or the rest of the face.
Why the Name Sounds So Elaborate
The long anatomical name is essentially a compact map: levator means lifter, labii superioris refers to the upper lip, and alaeque nasi means “and the wing of the nose.” Its name captures the paired motion that makes the muscle distinctive: a single narrow strip of facial muscle can lift the lip while helping flare the nostril.
