Corrugator supercilii muscle

The corrugator supercilii muscle is a small,

It draws the eyebrow downward and medially, producing the vertical "frowning" wrinkles of the forehead. It may be thought as the principal muscle in the facial expression of suffering. It also shields the eyes from strong sunlight.

Structure

The corrugator supercilii muscle is located at the medial end of the eyebrow. Its fibers pass laterally and somewhat superiorly from its origin to its insertion.^[1]

Origin

It arises from bone at the medial extremity of the

It inserts between the palpebral and orbital portions of the orbicularis oculi muscle. It inserts into the deep surface of the skin of the eyebrow, above the middle of the orbital arch.^{[citation needed]}

Innervation

Motor innervation is provided by the temporal branches of facial nerve (CN VII).^[1]

Vasculature

The muscle receives arterial supply from adjacent arteries - mostly from the superficial temporal artery, and the ophthalmic artery.^[1]

Relations

It is situated deep to the frontalis muscle (of the occipitofrontalis muscle) and orbicularis oculi muscle, with which it partially blends.^{[clarification needed][1]} Its fibres are situated between the palpebral and orbital portions of the orbicularis oculi muscle.^{[citation needed]}

The supratrochlear nerve passes between this muscle and the frontalis muscle.^[2]

Function

The muscle acts in tandem with the

The muscle is sometimes surgically severed or paralysed with botulinum toxin as a preventive treatment for some types of migraine or for aesthetic reasons.^[5]

Etymology

The name corrugator supercilii comes from Latin, and means wrinkler of the eyebrows.

Additional images

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  Corrugator supercilii seen from the inside.
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  Position of corrugator supercilii muscle (red)
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  Outer surface of frontal bone.
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  Visible on upper portion of face.

References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 907 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)