Procerus Muscle

Description

Arising from the fascia over the nasal bones and upper lateral nasal cartilages, the procerus (pyramidalis nasi) sits in the midline at the root of the nose and runs superiorly into the skin of the inferior forehead between the medial eyebrows. Its fibers lie superficial to the nasal bones and are continuous with the frontalis and corrugator supercilii across the glabellar region, forming part of the superficial musculoaponeurotic system of the nose. Medially placed and thin, it spans the bridge like a short strap. Small but specific. Attention to the procerus matters because it is the primary driver of transverse wrinkles over the nasal bridge and contributes to the “frown” complex used in facial expression assessment and aesthetic planning. Targeted botulinum toxin injection into the procerus, often paired with treatment of corrugator supercilii, can soften glabellar lines but requires clear understanding of fiber orientation to avoid unwanted brow ptosis or asymmetry. In rhinoplasty and dorsal nasal approaches, recognizing the procerus within the superficial soft tissue envelope helps preserve a natural glabellar contour and avoids unnecessary disruption of the nasal SMAS. Facial anatomy courses, surgical atlases covering rhinoplasty and forehead flap planning, and dermatology or plastic surgery patient education materials benefit from a clean depiction of the procerus and its midline relationship to the nasal bones and glabella. It also supports teaching on facial expression musculature, surface anatomy landmarks, and injection mapping for glabellar line treatment in outpatient aesthetics. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.