diff --git a/scripts/docs-site/docs-layout.css b/scripts/docs-site/docs-layout.css
index d1c9aaf0f0..83871d1e53 100644
--- a/scripts/docs-site/docs-layout.css
+++ b/scripts/docs-site/docs-layout.css
@@ -217,7 +217,14 @@
 /* Patch lists keep their detail control in the sentence's inline flow. */
 .docs-layout .doc li:has(> .release-source-inline) > p:first-child { display: inline; margin: 0; }
 .docs-layout .doc .release-source-inline { display: inline; }
-.docs-layout .doc .release-source-inline > summary { display: inline-flex; vertical-align: baseline; margin-inline-start: .35em; }
+.docs-layout .doc .release-source-inline > summary { display: inline-flex; vertical-align: middle; min-block-size: 0; inline-size: 20px; block-size: 20px; justify-content: center; margin-inline-start: .2em; padding: 0; border-radius: 4px; color: var(--muted); font-size: 0; line-height: 0; position: relative; }
+/* Inline patch-release details: a small chevron only; the label stays for assistive tech. */
+.docs-layout .doc .release-source-inline > summary::before { flex-basis: 11px; inline-size: 11px; block-size: 11px; opacity: .55; }
+.docs-layout .doc .release-source-inline > summary::after { content: ""; position: absolute; inset: -12px; }
+.docs-layout .doc .release-source-inline[open] > summary::before { opacity: .9; }
+.docs-layout .doc .release-source-inline > .release-source-content,
+.docs-layout .doc .release-source-inline > :not(summary) { display: block; margin: .3em 0 .2em; font-size: .86em; line-height: 1.55; color: var(--muted); }
+.docs-layout .doc .release-source-inline > :not(summary) a { color: inherit; text-decoration-color: color-mix(in srgb, currentColor 45%, transparent); }
 @media (hover:hover) and (pointer:fine) {
   .docs-layout .doc .release-source-toggle > summary:hover::before { color: var(--ink); }}
 .docs-layout .doc > :is(p,ul,ol,blockquote) { max-inline-size: var(--docs-prose-measure); margin-block: 0 var(--docs-paragraph-gap); }
diff --git a/scripts/docs-site/release-inline-details.test.mjs b/scripts/docs-site/release-inline-details.test.mjs
index 9e74fbf845..d7edfa2f54 100644
--- a/scripts/docs-site/release-inline-details.test.mjs
+++ b/scripts/docs-site/release-inline-details.test.mjs
@@ -33,10 +33,16 @@ test("patch details follow the fix inline and retain native keyboard access", as
           range.setEnd(paragraph.lastChild, paragraph.lastChild.textContent.length);
           const end = range.getBoundingClientRect();
           const control = element.getBoundingClientRect();
-          return { end: { left: end.left, right: end.right, top: end.top, bottom: end.bottom }, control: { left: control.left, top: control.top, bottom: control.bottom, height: control.height }, overflow: document.documentElement.scrollWidth > innerWidth, paragraphDisplay: getComputedStyle(paragraph).display };
+          // The visible chevron is compact; its pointer area extends past the box.
+          const centerX = control.left + control.width / 2;
+          const centerY = control.top + control.height / 2;
+          const hits = (x, y) => element.contains(document.elementFromPoint(x, y));
+          const pointerArea = [-21, 21].every((dy) => hits(centerX, centerY + dy)) && [-21, 21].every((dx) => hits(centerX + dx, centerY));
+          return { end: { left: end.left, right: end.right, top: end.top, bottom: end.bottom }, control: { left: control.left, top: control.top, bottom: control.bottom, height: control.height }, pointerArea, lineHeight: paragraph.getBoundingClientRect().height, overflow: document.documentElement.scrollWidth > innerWidth, paragraphDisplay: getComputedStyle(paragraph).display };
         });
         assert.equal(layout.paragraphDisplay, "inline");
-        assert.ok(layout.control.height >= 44, "retain the existing touch target");
+        assert.ok(layout.control.height <= 24, "keep the visible control compact");
+        assert.equal(layout.pointerArea, true, "retain a 44px pointer target around the control");
         assert.equal(layout.overflow, false, "narrow view must not scroll horizontally");
         if (width === 1200) {
           assert.ok(layout.control.left >= layout.end.right, "control follows the final character");