Procerus 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.

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
TAA04.1.03.008
FMA46769
Anatomical terms of muscle

Structure

The procerus 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.[1]

Function

The procerus 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.[2] Its contraction can produce transverse wrinkles.

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References

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. "Nose, nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses" CHAPTER 32. Gray's Anatomy

Additional Images
  • Procerus muscle (red).


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