Orbicularis oculi function

[TheSnap]

Hi there,

after researching a long time I try to ask the forum members, as I think, here are a lot of people familiar with anatomy. My question:

Does anybody can explain, how the orbicularis oculi works? That means, how does the opening and closing of the eyelids function really?

It is no problem, to set up a rig for eyelids, I know, you set to joints and connect them for opening and closing the eyes. But I want to know the real function, only for knowledge.

It must be different to the orbicularis oris, though these muscle is akin to the orbicularis oculi. The function of the oris is clear, you can see it very well, if you look at photographs of the actual american president. His mouth looks often like a trumpet by contracting the orbicularis oris. But the closing of the eyelids must work different, I think, because a muscle always can only pull and there is no was to pull the eyelids to close them.

Any idea?

Sorry for my bumpy english and greetings form Germany,

Stephan

[marcus_civis]

The orbicularis oculi is a sphincter muscle, so it’s a ring of muscle that closes all around the eye. Here’s a good video that explains the orbital anatomy:

[TheSnap]

Hi Marcus,

this helps a lot – seems, my search was in vain only by not knowing the right vocabulary… that´s the disadvantage of not being native speaker

Thank you!

Stephan

[Modos]

I’ve seen in in many (rigging, …) tutorials moving upper and lower eyelids in same or very similar manner and amount (both to center of eye) for blinking or “relaxed closed eyes” like for sleeping.

Found it very unnatural, even for some cartoon characters. Its working nice for lizards
Maybe for blinking it doesn’t matter cos it’s to fast and no one will notice, but found it’s easier to do things if I know how that rely works. Much easier to fake them too.

I found a video about blinking, parts recorded with highspeed camera so I can take some snapshots, arrange them in PS and make lines to compare lid movements.
Maybe someone found it useful:

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