
The corrugator supercilii muscle is a small, narrow, and pyramidal muscle in the forehead that draws the eyebrows together and downwards, creating vertical frown lines between the eyebrows. It is often referred to as the frowning muscle and is associated with expressions of suffering, concentration, and shielding the eyes from bright sunlight. The corrugator supercilii muscle is located at the medial end of the eyebrow, with its fibres passing laterally and superiorly. Its origin is in the medial portion of the supraorbital ridge of the eyebrow, and it inserts into the deep surface of the skin of the eyebrow. The corrugator supercilii muscle is just one of several muscles in the forehead region that contribute to eyebrow movements and facial expressions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of Muscle | Corrugator Supercilii |
| Location | Between the eyebrows, at the medial end of the eyebrow |
| Shape | Small, narrow, and pyramidal |
| Movement | Draws the eyebrows in medially and downward |
| Expression | Frowning, Squinting, or Concentrating |
| Wrinkles | Vertical lines between the eyebrows, and similar lines upward and across the forehead |
| Injection | Requires deeper injections near the glabella (between the eyebrows) to avoid affecting the frontalis muscle |
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What You'll Learn
- The corrugator supercilii muscle causes vertical lines between the eyebrows
- The corrugator supercilii muscle is the 'frowning' muscle
- The procerus muscle causes horizontal lines over the bridge of the nose
- The frontalis muscle is the only muscle that raises the eyebrows
- The orbicularis oculi muscle reduces crow's feet

The corrugator supercilii muscle causes vertical lines between the eyebrows
The corrugator supercilii muscle is a small, narrow, and pyramidal muscle in the face. It arises from the medial end of the superciliary arch and inserts into the deep surface of the skin of the eyebrow. This muscle draws the eyebrow downward and medially, producing the vertical "frowning" wrinkles of the forehead.
The corrugator supercilii muscle is responsible for the frowning and squinting action, and it is directly related to the development of static vertical wrinkles in the glabellar region. The muscle draws the eyebrows in medially and downward to shield the eyes in bright sunlight when squinting. The vertical "frown" lines between the eyebrows are also known as the "suspended sword". This line is associated with internalized anger, indicating that the person who develops this line on their face has difficulty expressing their anger outwardly and may turn their anger inwards.
The corrugator supercilii muscle acts upon the skin of the forehead superior to the middle of the supraorbital margin, producing vertical wrinkles of the forehead just superior to the nose. It is the "frowning" muscle and may be regarded as the principal muscle in the expression of suffering. It also contracts to prevent high sun glare, pulling the eyebrows toward the bridge of the nose to shield the eyes from excessively bright sunlight.
The corrugator supercilii muscle is located at the medial end of the eyebrow, and its fibers pass laterally and superiorly from its origin to its insertion. It arises from bone at the medial extremity of the superciliary arch and inserts into the deep surface of the skin of the eyebrow, above the middle of the orbital arch. The corrugator supercilii muscle is below the frontalis muscle, and its fibres are oriented obliquely. It moves the brow medially, toward the nose, creating vertical furrows between the brows.
The corrugator supercilii muscle can be surgically severed or paralysed with botulinum toxin as a preventive treatment for some types of migraine or for aesthetic reasons. Injecting the corrugator muscle requires particular attention because of its overlap with the frontalis muscle. If the frontalis muscle is inadvertently injected while treating the corrugators, it may weaken the ability of the frontalis to lift the brows, leading to brow heaviness or droop.
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The corrugator supercilii muscle is the 'frowning' muscle
The corrugator supercilii muscle is a small, narrow, and pyramidal muscle in the face. It is responsible for drawing the eyebrows together and downwards, resulting in vertical frown lines between the eyebrows and similar lines across the forehead. This muscle is often referred to as the "frowning muscle" and is associated with expressions of suffering, anger, frustration, impatience, or deep concentration.
The corrugator supercilii muscle works in combination with the orbicularis oculi muscle. Together, they draw the eyebrows medially and downward, shielding the eyes in bright sunlight or rain. This action can also serve to express emotions such as suffering or concentration. The contraction of these muscles results in vertical wrinkles on the forehead, just above the nose, commonly known as "frown lines."
The corrugator supercilii muscle is located deep at the medial end of each eyebrow. Its fibres extend diagonally, laterally, and slightly superiorly from its origin to its insertion. The muscle originates from the medial end of the superciliary arch of the frontal bone, near the root of the nose, and inserts into the deep surface of the skin of the eyebrow.
The corrugator supercilii muscle is one of the most commonly injected sites for cosmetic procedures, such as Botox, to reduce the appearance of frown lines. These procedures aim to relax the muscle and smooth out the skin, reducing the downward pull that creates the frown lines. However, due to the muscle's proximity to other facial muscles, such as the frontalis, careful injection techniques are required to avoid unintended effects on the ability of the frontalis muscle to lift the brows.
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The procerus muscle causes horizontal lines over the bridge of the nose
The procerus muscle is one of the muscles that contribute to pulling the eyebrows down. This action results in horizontal lines, often called "bunny lines", appearing over the bridge of the nose. This muscle is much smaller than the frontalis or corrugator muscles, but it still plays a significant role in facial expressions, particularly in conveying anger or frustration.
The procerus sign, first described by Romano and Colosimo in 2001, refers to the vertical wrinkling on the glabella and bridge of the nose, which is caused by the contraction of the procerus muscle. This sign is observed in patients with probable corticobasal diseases and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). Dystonia of the procerus muscle is specifically associated with PSP, and it can be addressed through cosmetic procedures such as denervation or surgery to reduce the furrow lines around the glabella.
The corrugator supercilii muscle, also known as the "frowning" muscle, works in combination with the orbicularis oculi muscle to pull the eyebrows downward and medially. This action creates vertical wrinkles on the forehead, including a deep line between the eyebrows known as the "suspended sword." This particular wrinkle pattern is associated with internalized anger and difficulty in expressing one's emotions outwardly.
To address the appearance of horizontal lines over the bridge of the nose caused by the procerus muscle, neuromodulators can be injected into this muscle to relax the area between the brows. This treatment reduces frown lines and opens up the appearance of the brow area. However, it is important to consider the balance between the opposing muscle groups when injecting neuromodulators into the forehead to avoid brow ptosis or droop.
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The frontalis muscle is the only muscle that raises the eyebrows
The frontalis muscle is part of the forehead's tug-of-war between muscles that lift and muscles that pull down the eyebrows. When the frontalis muscle is dominant, the eyebrows lift. However, if it is relaxed too much without addressing the muscles that pull the eyebrows down, it can result in brow ptosis or droop.
The corrugator supercilii muscle, orbicularis oculi muscle, and procerus muscle all contribute to pulling the eyebrows down. The corrugator supercilii muscle draws the eyebrows downward and medially, producing vertical "frowning" wrinkles on the forehead. It also shields the eyes from strong sunlight by pulling the eyebrows toward the bridge of the nose. The orbicularis oculi muscle surrounds the eye and is responsible for closing the eyelids and creating crow's feet wrinkles. It also pulls the eyebrows down. The procerus muscle is a small muscle located at the bridge of the nose, and it pulls the skin between the eyebrows down, contributing to horizontal lines at the top of the nose often called "bunny lines."
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The orbicularis oculi muscle reduces crow's feet
The orbicularis oculi muscle is one of the muscles that contributes to pulling the eyebrows down, creating a tug-of-war effect across the forehead. This action can lead to the development of wrinkles, often referred to as "crow's feet" or "bunny lines." To reduce the appearance of crow's feet, neuromodulators are commonly injected into the orbicularis oculi muscle. This treatment relaxes the downward pull on the lateral part of the eyebrows, softening the expression of anger or frustration and resulting in a subtle lift in the outer brow.
Additionally, the corrugator supercilii muscle, working in combination with the orbicularis oculi muscle, contributes to drawing the eyebrows downward and medially. This action forms vertical "frowning" wrinkles on the forehead, often associated with internalized anger or concentration. By injecting neuromodulators into the corrugator muscle, the downward pull of the eyebrows can be reduced, lessening the appearance of frown lines and opening up the brow area.
It is important to note that the frontalis muscle is the sole elevator of the eyebrows, counteracting the downward pull of the orbicularis oculi and corrugator muscles. Therefore, when considering injections to relax these muscles, a balanced approach is necessary to maintain well-positioned brows and a smooth forehead. Injecting the corrugator muscle requires particular attention due to its proximity to the frontalis muscle.
In addition to injections, surgical procedures such as muscle flaps and blepharoplasty have been employed to address crow's feet and lateral canthal skin folds associated with the contracture of the orbicularis oculi muscle. These techniques involve correcting the vertical fibers of the muscle through incision, resection, suspension, redraping, and fixation, or by covering the muscle with a superficial fascia flap.
By understanding the role of the orbicularis oculi muscle in the formation of crow's feet, targeted treatments can be applied to reduce their appearance and create a more youthful and relaxed expression.
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Frequently asked questions
The corrugator supercilii muscle.
This muscle draws the eyebrows together and downwards, creating vertical frown lines between the eyebrows. It is also known as the "frowning" muscle and is associated with expressions of suffering, concentration, and internalised anger.
Yes, the procerus muscle pulls the skin between the eyebrows down, contributing to horizontal lines at the top of the nose, often called "bunny lines".
Yes, neuromodulators such as Botox can be injected into the corrugator supercilii and procerus muscles to relax them and reduce the appearance of lines.
It is crucial to understand the underlying anatomy, including the depth and location of the muscles, to avoid complications. When injecting the corrugator muscle near the glabella (between the eyebrows), the injection should be deeper to avoid affecting the frontalis muscle, which sits above it.











































