Corrugator supercilii muscle

The corrugator supercilii is a small, narrow, pyramidal muscle close to the eye. It is located at the medial end of the eyebrow, beneath the frontalis and just above orbicularis oculi muscle.

Corrugator supercilii muscle
Left orbicularis oculi muscle (notice the corrugator muscle at the top)
Corrugator supercilii
Details
OriginSupraorbital ridge ( Superciliary arches )
InsertionForehead skin, near eyebrow
ArteryOphthalmic artery
NerveFacial nerve
ActionsWrinkles forehead
Identifiers
LatinMusculus corrugator supercilii
TAA04.1.03.018
FMA46794
Anatomical terms of muscle

It arises from the medial end of the superciliary arch; and its fibers pass upward and laterally, between the palpebral and orbital portions of the orbicularis oculi muscle, and are inserted into the deep surface of the skin, above the middle of the orbital arch.

The name corrugator supercilii is Latin, meaning wrinkler of the eyebrows.

Action

The corrugator draws the eyebrow downward and medially, producing the vertical wrinkles of the forehead. 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, making a roof over the area above the middle corner of the eye and typical forehead furrows.[1]

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

Additional images
  • Corrugator supercilii seen from the inside.
  • Position of corrugator supercilii muscle (red)
  • Outer surface of frontal bone.
  • 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)

  1. "eye, human."Encyclopædia Britannica from Encyclopædia Britannica 2006 Ultimate Reference Suite DVD 2009
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