Glabellar Lines
Pronunciation: gluh-BEL-uh lines
The vertical dynamic rhytides between the eyebrows formed by contraction of the corrugator supercilii and procerus muscles, commonly called frown lines.
Full Definition
Glabellar lines arise in the glabella — the area between the eyebrows and above the nose — due to repeated facial muscle contractions associated with squinting or frowning. They are among the most commonly treated sites with botulinum toxin in aesthetic practice. In clinical and regulatory texts, 'glabellar lines' is the preferred formal term; 'frown lines' is acceptable in consumer copy. Editors must confirm whether copy refers to vertical glabellar lines or horizontal forehead lines, as these are anatomically distinct. The adjective 'glabellar' is sometimes misspelled 'glabella' (the noun) in draft documents.
Usage
Usage note: Use the adjectival form 'glabellar', not the noun 'glabella', when modifying 'lines'. Distinguish clearly from forehead (frontalis) lines.
In Context
- "Botulinum toxin injection into the glabellar complex is one of the most frequently performed aesthetic procedures globally." — Clinical review article
- "The draft used 'glabella lines' — the correct term is 'glabellar lines', with the adjectival form." — Proofreading annotation