Supraorbital Artery, Anterior View

Description

Running superiorly from the orbit, the supraorbital artery emerges at the superior orbital margin near the supraorbital notch or foramen and then ascends in the forehead within the superficial fascia. Medial and lateral to it, the angular continuation of the facial artery and the superficial temporal artery with its frontal branch outline the main arterial supply of the anterior face and temple. Sensory nerve companions are typically represented nearby, with the supraorbital nerve (from the frontal nerve, V1) passing with the artery, while branches of the facial nerve (CN VII) course more laterally across the zygomatic and buccal regions to reach muscles such as orbicularis oculi and frontalis. Clinically, the supraorbital artery is a small vessel with outsized relevance because its course marks the supraorbital neurovascular bundle, a common target for supraorbital nerve block at the superior orbital rim and a frequent source of bleeding in forehead lacerations. Its relationship to the brow and frontalis also matters in cosmetic and reconstructive work, including brow lift incisions and endoscopic forehead approaches where injury can cause hematoma or dysesthesia. Flap planning benefits from this map. The artery also participates in anastomoses with the superficial temporal system, a point worth emphasizing when discussing scalp and forehead perfusion. Use this anterior facial and cervical plate for head and neck anatomy teaching (gross anatomy, dental, ENT, and ophthalmology curricula), for procedural guides illustrating supraorbital block technique, or for operative notes covering brow and frontal scalp incisions and forehead trauma repair. It also suits textbook figures on branches of the ophthalmic artery and their surface landmarks in the male face. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.