The depressor supercilii is a small facial muscle considered by some anatomists to be a separate medial head of the orbicularis oculi and by others to be a distinct muscle. It arises from the medial orbital rim and inserts into the skin of the medial eyebrow, depressing the medial brow to produce a frown and contributing to the glabellar frown lines between the eyebrows. It works synergistically with the corrugator supercilii.
| Origin | Medial orbital rim and medial canthal tendon |
|---|---|
| Insertion | Skin of the medial end of the eyebrow |
| Nerve Supply | Facial nerve (CN VII), zygomatic branch |
| Blood Supply | Angular artery (from facial artery) |
| Actions | Pulls the medial eyebrow inferiorly, creating a frown expression |
|---|
The depressor supercilii is one of the muscles targeted during botulinum toxin injection for glabellar frown line treatment, along with the corrugator supercilii and procerus. Selective relaxation of these muscles softens the glabellar complex and the concerned or angry expression produced by medial brow depression. In brow lift surgery, the depressor supercilii is divided along with the corrugator to allow the brow to be repositioned superiorly without antagonistic inferior traction.
Palpated as the soft tissue at the medial orbital rim, just above the medial canthal tendon, contracting when the patient frowns.
Botulinum toxin injection targeting the depressor supercilii along with the corrugator supercilii and procerus relaxes the medial brow depressors, elevating the medial brow and softening glabellar frown lines, with effects lasting 3-4 months.
