Anatomical Characterization and Three-dimensional Modeling of the Muscles at the Corner of the Mouth: An Iodine Staining Technique Based on Microcomputed Tomography

Summary The anatomy of the modiolus and surrounding muscles is complicated and contributes to the morphology of the mouth corner. We used iodine staining and micro-computed tomography (CT) to observe the anatomy of the modiolus and surrounding muscles. Based on the micro-CT images and the 3D model construction, we found that the muscle fibers in the modiolus were oriented continuously in the running direction of the muscle itself and that there were no chaotic clumps in the region of muscle fiber convergence. The pars marginalis of the orbicularis oris muscle connects with the deep buccinators muscle, which may account for how the pars marginalis fibers act to press the upper lip against the maxillary teeth or invert it closer to the oral cavity. These findings may be helpful to commissureplasty for plastic surgeons. Disclosure: The authors have no financial interest to declare in relation to the content of this article. Corresponding authors: Ningbei Yin, Address: Department of Cleft Lip and Palate, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100144, PR China, Email address: ningbeiyin@gmail.com, Telephone number: 86-010-88771927 ©2018American Society of Plastic Surgeons

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