science

Procerus muscle

Procerus muscle is a science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Procerus muscle rather than just read about it. In short: The procerus muscle (or pyramidalis nasi) is a small pyramidal muscle in the glabella. It is involved in facial expressions such as frowning and those associated with attentional control, and it indirectly helps shield the eyes from bright light.

Key takeaways

Procerus muscle belongs to science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Procerus muscle to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Procerus muscle from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

The procerus muscle (or pyramidalis nasi) is a small pyramidal muscle in the glabella. It is involved in facial expressions such as frowning and those associated with attentional control, and it indirectly helps shield the eyes from bright light. Because it contributes to wrinkle formation on the nasal bridge, it is often targeted in non-surgical facial rejuvenation treatments, such as botulinum toxin injections. Procerus is Latin, meaning tall or extended.

Structure The procerus muscle arises by tendinous fibers from the fascia covering the lower part of the nasal bone and upper part of the lateral nasal cartilage. It is inserted into the skin over the lower part of the forehead between the two eyebrows on either side of the midline, its fibers merging with those of the frontalis muscle.

Nerve supply The procerus muscle is supplied by the temporal branch of the facial nerve (VII). It may also be supplied by other branches of the facial nerve, which can be varied, including the lower zygomatic branches. A supply from its buccal branch has also been described. Its contraction can produce transverse wrinkles.

Function The procerus muscle helps to pull that part of the skin between the eyebrows downwards, which assists in flaring the nostrils. It can also contribute to an expression of anger.

Clinical significance

Procerus sign

Dystonia of the procerus muscle is involved in the procerus sign, which is indicative of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP).

Denervation The procerus muscle may be denervated to reduce furrow lines around the glabella caused by frowning. This may be for cosmetic purposes. Surgery can be used to transect the temporal branch of the facial nerve, although other branches of the facial nerve may also need to be cut.

Additional images

References This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 382 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Procerus muscle

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Procerus muscle claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Procerus muscle before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Procerus muscle ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Procerus muscle

In research: Procerus muscle appears in science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Procerus muscle in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Procerus muscle is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Facial muscles, Human head and neck, Muscles of the head and neck, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Procerus muscle outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Procerus muscle in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Procerus muscle means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Procerus muscle out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Procerus muscle in simple terms?

Why does Procerus muscle matter?

Because it connects several science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Procerus muscle?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Procerus muscle.