Which muscle raises the eyebrows in surprise?

Prepare for the VTCT Level 2 Facial and Skincare Test. Revise with flashcards and multiple choice questions, accompanied by insightful explanations. Ace your assessment with confidence!

Multiple Choice

Which muscle raises the eyebrows in surprise?

Raising the eyebrows in surprise is driven by the frontalis muscle. This muscle spans the forehead and, when it contracts, it lifts the eyebrows and smooths the forehead, producing that wide-eyed, surprised look with horizontal forehead creases. The other muscles listed have different roles: the corrugator supercilii pulls the eyebrows in and downward to frown; the nasalis controls nostril widening and shading of the nose; the levator labii superioris lifts the upper lip, not the eyebrows. So the frontalis is the one responsible for the upward movement of the eyebrows in surprise.

Raising the eyebrows in surprise is driven by the frontalis muscle. This muscle spans the forehead and, when it contracts, it lifts the eyebrows and smooths the forehead, producing that wide-eyed, surprised look with horizontal forehead creases. The other muscles listed have different roles: the corrugator supercilii pulls the eyebrows in and downward to frown; the nasalis controls nostril widening and shading of the nose; the levator labii superioris lifts the upper lip, not the eyebrows. So the frontalis is the one responsible for the upward movement of the eyebrows in surprise.

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