Procerus muscle

Procerus muscle
Muscles of the head, face, and neck. (Procerus visible at upper left, at top of nose.)
Details
OriginFrom fascia over the lower part of the nasal bone
InsertionInto the skin of the lower part of the forehead between the eyebrows
Arteryfacial artery
Nervetemporal branch of the facial nerve
ActionsDraws down the medial angle of the eyebrow giving expressions of frowning
Identifiers
Latinmusculus procerus, pyramidalis nasi, depressor glabellae
TA98A04.1.03.008
TA22061
FMA46769
Anatomical terms of muscle

The procerus muscle (or pyramidalis nasi) is a small pyramidal slip of muscle deep to the superior orbital nerve, artery and vein. Procerus is Latin, meaning tall or extended.

Structure

The procerus muscle arises by tendinous fibers from the fascia covering the lower part of the nasal bone and upper part of the lateral nasal cartilage. It is inserted into the skin over the lower part of the forehead between the two eyebrows on either side of the midline, its fibers merging with those of the frontalis muscle.[1]

Nerve supply

The procerus muscle is supplied by the temporal branch of the facial nerve (VII).[2] It may also be supplied by other branches of the facial nerve, which can be varied.[2]

Function

The procerus muscle helps to pull that part of the skin between the eyebrows downwards, which assists in flaring the nostrils. It can also contribute to an expression of anger.

Procerus is supplied by temporal and lower zygomatic branches from the facial nerve. A supply from its buccal branch has also been described.[3] Its contraction can produce transverse wrinkles.

Clinical significance

Procerus sign

Dystonia of the procerus muscle is involved in the procerus sign, which is indicative of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP).[4]

Denervation

The procerus muscle may be denervated to reduce furrow lines around the glabella caused by frowning.[2] This may be for cosmetic purposes. Surgery can be used to transect the temporal branch of the facial nerve, although other branches of the facial nerve may also need to be cut.[2]

References

Public domain This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 382 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

  1. ↑ "eye, human."Encyclopædia Britannica from Encyclopædia Britannica 2006 Ultimate Reference Suite DVD 2009
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Angular nerve: New insights on innervation of the corrugator supercilii and procerus muscles". Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery. 59 (4): 366–372. 2006-04-01. doi:10.1016/j.bjps.2005.09.011. ISSN 1748-6815.
  3. ↑ "Nose, nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses" CHAPTER 32. Gray's Anatomy
  4. ↑ Batla, Amit; Nehru, Ravi; Vijay, Tarun (2010-11-15). "Vertical wrinkling of the forehead or Procerus sign in Progressive Supranuclear Palsy". Journal of the Neurological Sciences. 298 (1–2): 148–149. doi:10.1016/j.jns.2010.08.010. ISSN 0022-510X – via ScienceDirect.

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