Corrugator supercilii muscle

The corrugator supercilii muscle is located at the medial end of the eyebrow, beneath the frontalis muscle and just above the orbicularis oculi muscle.

It arises from the medial end of the superciliary arch. Its fibers pass upward and laterally, 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.

The corrugator supercilii muscle draws the eyebrow downward and medially, producing the vertical wrinkles of the forehead.[2] 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.[3]

The muscle is sometimes surgically severed or paralysed with botulinum toxin as a preventive treatment for some types of migraine or for aesthetic reasons.[4]

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

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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.

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