The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals Chapter VI - Special Expressions of Man - Suffering and Weeping Part 2

In which the intricate motions of the orbicular muscles around the eyes are observed to play a central role in the various expressions that accompany strong emotions and involuntary acts, notably in the secretion of tears during both distress and violent laughter. Through careful comparison with the habits of certain animals, and consideration of reflex actions and habitual associations, an account is offered that links the physiological mechanisms of weeping to protective and reflexive origins, thus revealing the complex interplay of muscle contraction, vascular changes, and nerve activity in this most human of expressions.