zygomaticus major

US/ˌzaɪ.ɡəˌmæt.ək.əs ˈmeɪ.d͡ʒɚ/

noun

A slender band of muscle on each side of the face that arises from the zygomatic bone, inserts into the orbicularis oris and skin at the corner of the mouth, and acts to pull the corner of the mouth upward and backward when smiling or laughing.

OriginNew Latin zygomaticus major →
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Meanings

nounzygomaticus major (plural zygomatici majores)

plural zygomatici majores

  1. anatomyA slender band of muscle on each side of the face that arises from the zygomatic bone, inserts into the orbicularis oris and skin at the corner of the mouth, and acts to pull the corner of the mouth upward and backward when smiling or laughing.

Origin

  1. New Latinzygomaticus major
  2. Englishzygomaticus major

Borrowed from New Latin zygomaticus major, clipping of mūsculus zygomaticus major (“larger zygomatic muscle”).

More words from New Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 顴大肌 /颧大肌
  • 顴大肌 /颧大肌 (quándàjī)muscle
Cite this entry
APA

zygomaticus major. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/zygomaticus%20major

MLA

“zygomaticus major.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/zygomaticus%20major. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “zygomaticus major,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/zygomaticus%20major.

Source: zygomaticus major on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.