Procerus Muscle, Anterior View

Description

Arising from the nasal bone and upper lateral nasal cartilage, the procerus muscle courses superiorly in the midline to blend with the dermis of the inferior forehead between the medial eyebrows. Its fibers lie superficial to the nasal periosteum and continuous facial musculature, positioned inferior to the frontalis and medial to the paired corrugator supercilii. From this anterior perspective, the muscle reads as a small, triangular (pyramidal) slip over the bridge of the nose, with its base inferior and its apex directed superiorly toward the glabellar region. Small muscle. Big expression change. Clinically, procerus action pulls the medial brow inferiorly and creates transverse wrinkles over the nasal dorsum, a pattern often targeted in cosmetic chemodenervation for nasal “bunny lines.” Placement matters: injections placed too superior or too lateral can diffuse into adjacent frontalis or levator labii superioris alaeque nasi and alter brow position or upper lip elevation. This view also clarifies the relationship of the procerus to the glabella, a frequent landmark in facial laceration repair and in reconstructive planning where you want to anticipate skin tension lines and dynamic creasing during expression. Use this illustration in head and neck anatomy modules that cover muscles of facial expression, in plastic surgery or dermatology teaching files on botulinum toxin technique, and in medical publishing where a clean anterior depiction of the nasal bridge musculature is needed for labeling and assessment items. It also fits well in patient education materials explaining targeted treatment of glabellar complex muscles. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.