Muscular system · Head and neck
Corrugator supercilii !
The corrugator supercilii is a small muscle under the inner end of the eyebrow; it pulls the eyebrows together, making the frown lines.
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What it is
A small muscle under the inner eyebrow.
What it does
Pulls the eyebrows together: the frown lines.
Key facts
- Origin
- Medial superciliary arch
- Insertion
- Skin of the medial eyebrow
- Action
- Draws the eyebrows together (frown lines)
- Nerve
- Facial nerve (CN VII): temporal branches
- Blood supply
- Facial artery branches
Relations
- Superficial
- Frontalis and the orbital part of the orbicularis oculi, through which it reaches the skin of the eyebrow
- Deep
- Periosteum of the frontal bone at the medial superciliary arch
- Medial
- Procerus over the root of the nose
- Contents
- Branches of the supratrochlear nerve and vessels pass between its fibres
How to find it
Asked to frown hard, a short bulge and vertical skin creases appear above the inner end of the eyebrow; the muscle lies under the medial third of the brow.
Examination
- Frowning (drawing the brows together): no creases on one side points to weakness of the upper facial nerve branches on that side
On imaging
Not seen as a separate structure on routine imaging. High-resolution ultrasound can show it under the medial third of the brow, with the supratrochlear vessels and nerve passing through it; this helps plan injections or decompression of these nerves. After a blow to the brow, CT looks at the supraorbital rim and frontal sinus beneath it.
Clinical notes
- Botulinum toxin injection for frown lines is a common cosmetic procedure; spread to the levator palpebrae superioris can cause temporary drooping of the upper eyelid
- Some migraine surgery removes part of the corrugator to free the supratrochlear and supraorbital nerves
- Forehead and brow-lift surgery divides or weakens it to soften the glabellar lines
Anatomical variants
- Its size and the number of nerve branches crossing it vary widely; the supraorbital nerve may exit through a foramen rather than a notch
Development
Second pharyngeal arch muscle, hence its facial nerve supply, even though the sensory nerves that run through it belong to the trigeminal nerve (V1).
Memory aid
Corrugated metal is creased: the corrugator creases the brow into the vertical «11» lines.
Test yourself
Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.
Which frown lines does the corrugator supercilii produce?
The vertical lines between the eyebrows, as it draws the eyebrows together; the procerus makes the horizontal ones.
Which sensory nerve runs through the fibres of the corrugator supercilii?
The supratrochlear nerve, with the supraorbital nerve close beside it; some migraine surgery removes part of the muscle to free them.
What can follow if botulinum toxin injected into the corrugator supercilii spreads to the levator palpebrae superioris?
Temporary drooping of the upper eyelid, because the toxin weakens the eyelid elevator as well.
Educational information, not medical advice. For any symptom, see a health professional.
Its names
- Official Latin (TA2)
- corrugator supercilii TA2 2071
- Official Spanish (DeCS)
- Músculo corrugador superciliar
- English (TA2)
- Corrugator supercilii
- Also called
- corrugator supercilii muscle · musculus corrugator glabellae · muscle of Koyter · Koyter's muscle
Related
Sources: Terminologia Anatomica (TA2); Anatomy, Head and Neck, Eye Corrugator Muscle; Anatomy, Head and Neck: Facial Muscles; Anatomy of the Human Body (20th ed.): Development of the Muscles (Lea & Febiger (Gray's Anatomy, 1918), 1918) · adapted, Public domain.
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Representative model, for educational purposes only.
