The depressor supercilii is a paired, inverted triangular-shaped facial muscle that acts to depress the eyebrows upon contractions. It is positioned at the medial and superior aspects of the orbit, stretching between the medial canthus of the orbit and the eyebrow.

Origin and insertion of depressor supercilii

Some authors suggest that the depressor supercilii is part of the orbicularis oculi muscle rather than a distinct muscle. However, research has shown that it is a separate muscle from both the corrugator supercilii and the orbicularis oculi.

Origin: frontal process of the maxilla above the medial canthal tendon.

Insertion: it flares out across the skin at the level of the eyebrow and at the intercanthal region.

Action: depresses the eyebrow; along with the procerus muscle, it forms a horizontal wrinkle across the bridge of the nose.

Innervation: temporal branches of the facial nerve (CN VII).

Arterial blood supply: branches of the facial artery (a branch of the external carotid artery); some contributions may also come from the supraorbital and supratrochlear arteries (branches of the ophthalmic artery).

Venous drainage: facial vein (drains into the internal jugular vein) and superior ophthalmic vein (drains into the cavernous sinus).

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Depressor supercilii