Depressor supercilii muscle: anatomy and the glabella
- Muscle
Quick facts
- Origin
- Medial region of the orbital rim, near the medial palpebral ligament (frontal process of the maxilla and nasal part of the frontal bone).
- Insertion
- Skin under the medial portion of the eyebrow (head of the eyebrow).
- Action
- Lowers the head of the eyebrow, helping to frown.
- Innervation
- Temporal and zygomatic branches of the facial nerve.
- Relevance in facial harmonization
- Part of the glabellar complex along with the corrugator, procerus and orbicularis oculi.
- In Harmy
- Lies in the area of the Glabella point of the marking.
The depressor supercilii is a small muscle at the inner corner of the eye that lowers the head (medial portion) of the eyebrow. It is part of the glabellar complex, along with the corrugator supercilii muscle, the procerus and medial fibers of the orbicularis oculi. It is one of the muscles responsible for frowning and for the expression of anger or concentration.
Where is it and how is it built?
The depressor supercilii arises from the medial region of the orbital rim, near the medial palpebral ligament, in fibers that start from the frontal process of the maxilla and the nasal part of the frontal bone. It rises almost vertically and inserts into the skin under the head of the eyebrow.
Its classification is debated. Terminologia Anatomica recognizes it as its own muscle, but some authors describe it as a portion of the orbicularis oculi or the corrugator. This difference in nomenclature explains why it appears so little in some descriptions of the glabella.
| Glabellar complex muscle | Main fiber direction | Action | Line it forms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corrugator supercilii | Oblique, outward and upward | Draws the eyebrows together | Vertical lines ("11 lines") |
| Procerus | Vertical, at the root of the nose | Pulls the skin between the eyebrows down | Horizontal lines at the root of the nose |
| Depressor supercilii | Vertical, at the inner corner | Lowers the head of the eyebrow | Contributes to medial oblique lines |
| Orbicularis oculi (medial fibers) | Circular | Closes the eye and lowers the eyebrow | Contributes to the medial frown |
Why does it matter in facial harmonization?
The glabellar muscles are depressors: they pull the eyebrows down and toward the center. The frontalis muscle, which lifts the eyebrows, is the antagonist. The balance between these groups defines the resting position of the eyebrow and the formation of dynamic wrinkles between the eyes.
In toxin in the glabella, reducing the strength of the medial depressors smooths the frown and may slightly change the position of the head of the eyebrow. That is why the depressor supercilii is considered in the assessment, even when it is not named separately in the plan. For the full reasoning, see the glabella area and the fundamentals of botulinum toxin.
How does it show up in the assessment?
- Ask the patient to frown and watch whether the head of the eyebrow drops beyond the movement of drawing together.
- Note oblique lines at the inner corner, between the eyebrow and the root of the nose.
- Assess the eyebrow at rest: pre-existing asymmetries should be photographed and recorded.
- Compare with contraction of the frontalis to understand the balance of forces.
Also called: depressor supercilii, eyebrow depressor.
Frequently asked questions
What are the muscles of the glabella?
The glabellar complex includes the corrugator supercilii, the procerus, the depressor supercilii and medial fibers of the orbicularis oculi. Together, they draw the eyebrows together and down when frowning.
Is the depressor supercilii a separate muscle?
Terminologia Anatomica lists it as its own muscle, but some authors describe it as part of the orbicularis oculi or the corrugator. In clinical practice, what matters is recognizing its action during assessment.