Definition of a Levator Muscle

Medical dictionaries define levator muscles as any muscle in the body that lifts or raises a structure of the body, including skin, muscles or organs. Levator muscles are found throughout the human form, on the face, the torso and right down to the toes. Actually, any muscle or organ that provides a lifting motion to movement can be considered a levator. So think about the motion of an elevator and you'll start to get the picture.

Location

• Levator muscles can be found in the body, from head to toe. Any movement by a muscle that compels a lifting motion of single muscles or muscle groups located beneath the surface of the skin can be termed a levator muscle. Some of the most common levator muscles include but are not limited to those in the eyelids, the arms, shoulders and mouth.

Eye

• The palpebrae superior muscle elevates the eyebrows in a movement that displays surprise. Picture your eyebrows lifting up and you have a levator motion of the eye. The levator muscle in the upper eyelid attaches at the back of the eyeball and ends at the margin of the eyelid. This muscle is responsible for keeping your eyelid up and out of the way when you're awake.

Mouth

• We are all familiar with Billy Idol's famous sneer-like expression, which is also the result of levator movement of the anguli oris, or upper lip. This movement enables a person to smile, sneer, grin or bite. This muscle also enables facial expressions accompanied with chewing gum or delicious barbecued beef or pork ribs.

Shoulder

• The shoulder levator muscles help us carry things or even just shrug our worries away. The lifting motion is enabled by the levator scapulae, which is attached (as per its terminology) to the scapula or shoulder blade. Lifting weights, a bottle of water or even shrugging at your teacher, parent or boss are enabled by the levator muscle.

Pelvic Floor

• Keeping pelvic organs toned is the responsibility of the muscle known as the levator Ani-coccygeus, which supports the pelvic viscera. These muscles keep all the pelvic floor muscles toned and in good condition to help prevent conditions such as incontinence.