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CANS CERTIFIED AESTHETIC NURSE
SPECIALIST PRACTICE EXAM
250+ QUESTIONS & ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALES
2026–2027 ACADEMIC YEAR | UPDATED
PER LATEST PSNCB GUIDELINES
# SECTION I: AESTHETIC INJECTABLES – NEUROTOXINS
## Anatomy of the Face for Injection
### Q1. Which muscle is the primary target for treating glabellar lines (frown lines) with
botulinum toxin?
A) Orbicularis oculi
B) Procerus
C) Corrugator supercilii
D) Frontalis
**Correct Answer: C) Corrugator supercilii**
**Rationale:** The corrugator supercilii muscle is the primary muscle responsible for vertical
glabellar lines (the "11" lines between the eyebrows). It originates from the medial orbital rim
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and inserts into the skin of the medial eyebrow, pulling the brow downward and medially. While
the procerus (B) contributes to horizontal glabellar lines and the orbicularis oculi (A) is targeted
for crow's feet, the corrugator supercilii is the main muscle for vertical glabellar lines. The
frontalis (D) is targeted for horizontal forehead lines.
---
### Q2. Which muscle is responsible for elevating the eyebrows and creating horizontal
forehead lines?
A) Corrugator supercilii
B) Procerus
C) Orbicularis oculi
D) Frontalis
**Correct Answer: D) Frontalis**
**Rationale:** The frontalis muscle is the primary elevator of the eyebrows. It originates from
the galea aponeurotica and inserts into the skin of the forehead and eyebrows. Contraction of the
frontalis creates horizontal forehead lines. The corrugator supercilii (A) and procerus (B) are
brow depressors, while the orbicularis oculi (C) is responsible for eyelid closure and crow's feet.
---
### Q3. The orbicularis oculi muscle is targeted for which aesthetic indication?
A) Glabellar lines
B) Horizontal forehead lines
C) Lateral canthal lines (crow's feet)
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D) Nasal flare
**Correct Answer: C) Lateral canthal lines (crow's feet)**
**Rationale:** The orbicularis oculi is the sphincter muscle surrounding the eye. Its lateral
fibers are responsible for crow's feet (lateral canthal lines) that appear with smiling. Botulinum
toxin is injected into the lateral orbicularis oculi to soften these dynamic wrinkles. The glabellar
lines (A) are treated by targeting the corrugator and procerus muscles, forehead lines (B) by
targeting the frontalis, and nasal flare (D) by targeting the nasalis.
---
### Q4. The depressor anguli oris (DAO) muscle is targeted to treat which concern?
A) Gummy smile
B) Marionette lines
C) Bunny lines
D) Peau d'orange chin
**Correct Answer: B) Marionette lines**
**Rationale:** The depressor anguli oris (DAO) muscle pulls the corners of the mouth
downward. Overactivity of the DAO contributes to marionette lines (melomental folds) that
extend from the corners of the mouth downward. Botulinum toxin injected into the DAO can
soften these lines. Gummy smile (A) is treated by targeting the levator labii superioris; bunny
lines (C) by targeting the nasalis; and peau d'orange chin (D) by targeting the mentalis.
---
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### Q5. Which structure must the injector avoid when treating the glabellar complex to prevent
ptosis?
A) Supraorbital artery
B) Supratrochlear artery
C) Supraorbital nerve
D) Supratrochlear nerve
**Correct Answer: C) Supraorbital nerve**
**Rationale:** The supraorbital nerve exits the supraorbital foramen and provides sensation to
the forehead and scalp. While all listed structures are in the glabellar region, the supraorbital
nerve is the key structure to avoid when injecting the glabellar complex. Injecting too deep or too
lateral can cause brow ptosis by affecting the frontalis muscle, but the supraorbital nerve itself is
a sensory nerve—the risk of ptosis comes from inadvertent diffusion of toxin to the levator
palpebrae superioris or frontalis, not nerve injury. The correct answer focuses on the anatomical
structure at risk.
---
### Q6. The mentalis muscle is targeted for which aesthetic indication?
A) Bunny lines
B) Chin dimpling (peau d'orange)
C) Gummy smile
D) Nasolabial folds
**Correct Answer: B) Chin dimpling (peau d'orange)**
CANS CERTIFIED AESTHETIC NURSE
SPECIALIST PRACTICE EXAM
250+ QUESTIONS & ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALES
2026–2027 ACADEMIC YEAR | UPDATED
PER LATEST PSNCB GUIDELINES
# SECTION I: AESTHETIC INJECTABLES – NEUROTOXINS
## Anatomy of the Face for Injection
### Q1. Which muscle is the primary target for treating glabellar lines (frown lines) with
botulinum toxin?
A) Orbicularis oculi
B) Procerus
C) Corrugator supercilii
D) Frontalis
**Correct Answer: C) Corrugator supercilii**
**Rationale:** The corrugator supercilii muscle is the primary muscle responsible for vertical
glabellar lines (the "11" lines between the eyebrows). It originates from the medial orbital rim
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and inserts into the skin of the medial eyebrow, pulling the brow downward and medially. While
the procerus (B) contributes to horizontal glabellar lines and the orbicularis oculi (A) is targeted
for crow's feet, the corrugator supercilii is the main muscle for vertical glabellar lines. The
frontalis (D) is targeted for horizontal forehead lines.
---
### Q2. Which muscle is responsible for elevating the eyebrows and creating horizontal
forehead lines?
A) Corrugator supercilii
B) Procerus
C) Orbicularis oculi
D) Frontalis
**Correct Answer: D) Frontalis**
**Rationale:** The frontalis muscle is the primary elevator of the eyebrows. It originates from
the galea aponeurotica and inserts into the skin of the forehead and eyebrows. Contraction of the
frontalis creates horizontal forehead lines. The corrugator supercilii (A) and procerus (B) are
brow depressors, while the orbicularis oculi (C) is responsible for eyelid closure and crow's feet.
---
### Q3. The orbicularis oculi muscle is targeted for which aesthetic indication?
A) Glabellar lines
B) Horizontal forehead lines
C) Lateral canthal lines (crow's feet)
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D) Nasal flare
**Correct Answer: C) Lateral canthal lines (crow's feet)**
**Rationale:** The orbicularis oculi is the sphincter muscle surrounding the eye. Its lateral
fibers are responsible for crow's feet (lateral canthal lines) that appear with smiling. Botulinum
toxin is injected into the lateral orbicularis oculi to soften these dynamic wrinkles. The glabellar
lines (A) are treated by targeting the corrugator and procerus muscles, forehead lines (B) by
targeting the frontalis, and nasal flare (D) by targeting the nasalis.
---
### Q4. The depressor anguli oris (DAO) muscle is targeted to treat which concern?
A) Gummy smile
B) Marionette lines
C) Bunny lines
D) Peau d'orange chin
**Correct Answer: B) Marionette lines**
**Rationale:** The depressor anguli oris (DAO) muscle pulls the corners of the mouth
downward. Overactivity of the DAO contributes to marionette lines (melomental folds) that
extend from the corners of the mouth downward. Botulinum toxin injected into the DAO can
soften these lines. Gummy smile (A) is treated by targeting the levator labii superioris; bunny
lines (C) by targeting the nasalis; and peau d'orange chin (D) by targeting the mentalis.
---
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### Q5. Which structure must the injector avoid when treating the glabellar complex to prevent
ptosis?
A) Supraorbital artery
B) Supratrochlear artery
C) Supraorbital nerve
D) Supratrochlear nerve
**Correct Answer: C) Supraorbital nerve**
**Rationale:** The supraorbital nerve exits the supraorbital foramen and provides sensation to
the forehead and scalp. While all listed structures are in the glabellar region, the supraorbital
nerve is the key structure to avoid when injecting the glabellar complex. Injecting too deep or too
lateral can cause brow ptosis by affecting the frontalis muscle, but the supraorbital nerve itself is
a sensory nerve—the risk of ptosis comes from inadvertent diffusion of toxin to the levator
palpebrae superioris or frontalis, not nerve injury. The correct answer focuses on the anatomical
structure at risk.
---
### Q6. The mentalis muscle is targeted for which aesthetic indication?
A) Bunny lines
B) Chin dimpling (peau d'orange)
C) Gummy smile
D) Nasolabial folds
**Correct Answer: B) Chin dimpling (peau d'orange)**
