A rail for a panel support forming a suspended ceiling, said rail having an inverted T-shaped cross section and having a height Ht, the rail comprising: - a vertical web extending from a lower end to an upper end, - horizontal extensions forming a base plate, which is able to support the panels, which extensions are arranged at the lower end of the web, - a bulbous piece arranged at the top of the web, said rail comprising at least one expansion absorber; said expansion absorber comprising at least: a main opening (5, 50) comprising 2 substantially vertical edges (6a, 6b, 60a and 60b) extending into the vertical web, the 2 edges being spaced apart by a length L1 when the rail is not subjected to a longitudinal compressive force, the 2 edges being aligned so as to abut against one another when the rail is subjected to a sufficient longitudinal compressive force; said main opening (5, 50) extending, at the lower part, as far as an area of material able to form a fold line when the rail is subjected to a longitudinal compressive force; two slits (8a, 9a, 8b, 9b) each extending on either side of the main opening (5, 50) over a total length L2 greater than L1, the two slits (8a, 9a, 8b, 9b) delimiting, with the base plate, two strips of material (10a, 10b) which are able to fold, the two substantially vertical edges (6a, 6b, 60a and 60b) extending over a height H1 representing between 0.3 and 0.8 times the height Hb of the web of the profiled element, preferably between 0.4 and 0.8 times the height Hb of the web. - a vertical web extending from a lower end to an upper end, - horizontal extensions forming a base plate, which is able to support the panels, which extensions are arranged at the lower end of the web, - a bulbous piece arranged at the top of the web, said rail comprising at least one expansion absorber; said expansion absorber comprising at least: a main opening (5, 50) comprising 2 substantially vertical edges (6a, 6b, 60a and 60b) extending into the vertical web, the 2 edges being spaced apart by a length L1 when the rail is not subjected to a longitudinal compressive force, the 2 edges being aligned so as to abut against one another when the rail is subjected to a sufficient longitudinal compressive force; said main opening (5, 50) extending, at the lower part, as far as an area of material able to form a fold line when the rail is subjected to a longitudinal compressive force; two slits (8a, 9a, 8b, 9b) each extending on either side of the main opening (5, 50) over a total length L2 greater than L1, the two slits (8a, 9a, 8b, 9b) delimiting, with the base plate, two strips of material (10a, 10b) which are able to fold, the two substantially vertical edges (6a, 6b, 60a and 60b) extending over a height H1 representing between 0.3 and 0.8 times the height Hb of the web of the profiled element, preferably between 0.4 and 0.8 times the height Hb of the web. a main opening (5, 50) comprising 2 substantially vertical edges (6a, 6b, 60a and 60b) extending into the vertical web, the 2 edges being spaced apart by a length L1 when the rail is not subjected to a longitudinal compressive force, the 2 edges being aligned so as to abut against one another when the rail is subjected to a sufficient longitudinal compressive force; said main opening (5, 50) extending, at the lower part, as far as an area of material able to form a fold line when the rail is subjected to a longitudinal compressive force; two slits (8a, 9a, 8b, 9b) each extending on either side of the main opening (5, 50) over a total length L2 greater than L1, the two slits (8a, 9a, 8b, 9b) delimiting, with the base plate, two strips of material (10a, 10b) which are able to fold, the two substantially vertical edges (6a, 6b, 60a and 60b) extending over a height H1 representing between 0.3 and 0.8 times the height Hb of the web of the profiled element, preferably between 0.4 and 0.8 times the height Hb of the web.