Corrugator supercilii muscle

The corrugator supercilii muscle is a small, narrow, pyramidal muscle of the face.^[1] It arises from the medial end of the superciliary arch; it inserts into the deep surface of the skin of the eyebrow.

Corrugator supercilii muscle
Anatomical right orbicularis oculi muscle (notice the corrugator muscle at the top)
Corrugator supercilii
Details
Origin	Supraorbital ridge (superciliary arches)
Insertion	Forehead skin, near eyebrow
Artery	Ophthalmic artery
Nerve	Facial nerve
Actions	Wrinkles forehead
Identifiers
Latin	musculus corrugator supercilii
TA98	A04.1.03.018
TA2	2071
FMA	46794
Anatomical terms of muscle [edit on Wikidata]

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.^[2]

Origin

It arises from bone at the medial extremity of the superciliary arch.^[2]

Insertion

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).^[2]

Vasculature

The muscle receives arterial supply from adjacent arteries - mostly from the superficial temporal artery, and the ophthalmic artery.^[2]

Relations

It is situated deep to the frontalis muscle (of the occipitofrontalis muscle) and orbicularis oculi muscle, with which it partially blends.^{[clarification needed][2]} 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.^[3]

Function

The muscle acts in tandem with the orbicularis oculi muscle. The corrugator supercilii muscle acts upon the skin of the forehead superior to the middle of the supraorbital margin,^[2] drawing the eyebrow inferomedially to produce vertical wrinkles of the forehead^[4] just superior to the nose.^[2] It is the "frowning" muscle, and may be regarded as the principal muscle in the expression of suffering.^[5] It also contracts to prevent high sun glare,^[5] pulling the eyebrows toward the bridge of the nose, making a roof over the area above the middle corner of the eye and typical forehead furrows^[5] to shield the eye from excessively bright sunlight.^[2]

Clinical significance

The muscle is sometimes surgically severed or paralysed with botulinum toxin as a preventive treatment for some types of migraine or for aesthetic reasons.^[6]

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.