Procerus Muscle Under the Skin, Anterior View

Description

Centered at the glabella, the procerus (pyramidalis nasi) appears as a narrow, pyramidal slip superficial to the nasal bridge, spanning inferiorly from the fascia over the nasal bones and upper lateral nasal cartilages to blend superiorly with the skin of the lower forehead. Laterally, its fibers sit between the paired corrugator supercilii at the superomedial brow and the medial fibers of frontalis within the epicranial aponeurosis. Surrounding facial expression muscles remain visible in the anterior face, including orbicularis oculi encircling the palpebral fissures and orbicularis oris forming the muscular sphincter of the mouth, with the superficial cervical platysma extending inferiorly over the anterior neck. Clinically, this view clarifies why procerus contraction produces transverse wrinkles over the nasal root and contributes to the downward pull of the medial eyebrow, the classic “frown” complex when acting with corrugator supercilii and depressor supercilii. Small changes in injection depth matter here: botulinum toxin placed too superiorly risks unwanted diffusion into frontalis with brow ptosis, while placement too lateral can miss the medial procerus fibers and leave persistent glabellar lines. Innervation by temporal and zygomatic branches of the facial nerve and blood supply from angular and dorsal nasal branches help frame surgical and cosmetic planning. Use this artwork in head and neck anatomy teaching to anchor surface landmarks at the nasion and glabella, or in plastic surgery and dermatology materials discussing glabellar rhytids, frown-line botulinum toxin mapping, and complication avoidance. It also fits ENT and facial trauma publications where the nasal dorsum and adjacent mimetic musculature guide incision placement and soft-tissue repair. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.