Which muscle shapes and compresses the lips as in whistling or kissing?

• A. Orbicularis Oris
• B. Zygomaticus Major
• C. Frontalis
• D. Orbicularis Oculi

Answer: (A)

The muscle that shapes and compresses the lips is the orbicularis oris. This circular muscle surrounds the mouth like a ring, acting as a sphincter. When it contracts, it tightens and purses the lips, allowing you to press them together, protrude them, or puck­er—motions essential for whistling and kissing. Because it encircles the mouth, its primary action is to close and shape the lip opening rather than lift the mouth corners. Other nearby muscles have different roles—for example, the zygomaticus major lifts the corners of the mouth in smiling, the frontalis raises the eyebrows, and the orbicularis oculi closes the eyelids. But for shaping and compressing the lips, the orbicularis oris is the key muscle.