Specific Anatomy of the Forehead

Description

Centered on the frons (forehead), the highlighted region overlies the squama of the frontal bone (os frontale) superior to the supraorbital margins and superciliary arches, with the glabella positioned on the midline just above the radix of the nose. Superficial to bone, the frontal belly of the occipitofrontalis (frontalis) spreads across the anterior scalp, blending inferiorly with the orbicularis oculi and corrugator supercilii near the medial brow. Laterally, the soft tissues taper toward the temporal line, while the cutaneous surface reflects common forehead landmarks used for proportion and brow aesthetics. Skin is the surface. For clinicians, this anterior forehead view is where surface anatomy meets procedural safety: the supraorbital notch or foramen typically lies at the junction of the medial and middle thirds of the superior orbital rim, transmitting the supraorbital nerve and vessels that are targeted in regional anesthesia and can be irritated after blunt trauma or surgical dissection. Forehead lacerations and subgaleal hematomas track in predictable planes because the galea aponeurotica and loose areolar tissue allow fluid spread over the calvaria, while the frontalis muscle, lacking bony attachments, elevates the brow and drives transverse forehead rhytids used when planning botulinum toxin placement or a brow lift incision. Frontal sinus boundaries also sit deep to this field, shaping fracture patterns and influencing approach in craniofacial repair. Use this asset for teaching facial surface anatomy in head and neck modules, illustrating the target zone for supraorbital nerve block in emergency medicine and anesthesia references, or supporting dermatology and plastic surgery publications discussing forehead lines, brow position, and safe injection planes in patients with darker skin tones. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.