Maya® Studio Projects:

Facial Anatomy

The human face comprises numerous muscles. The exact number is arguable, because facial muscles merge together, can be multipronged, and may perform various actions. In the end, the amount is irrelevant—what matters is replicating the correct motion.

A muscle is made up of three parts. The first is its anchor point, or origin; this is a fixed position to which the muscle retracts. The next is the muscle belly: the part of the muscle that does the actual contracting or tightening. The last part is the insertion, which connects to other tissues. When the muscle is acted upon, the insertion draws toward its origin, pulling the tissues connected to it. Figure 2.1 illustrates a common muscle.

Of all the muscles in the face, you'll create ...