Supraorbital Nerve, Anterior View

Description

Arising from the frontal nerve, the supraorbital nerve is traced anteriorly as it reaches the supraorbital notch or foramen at the superior orbital margin of the frontal bone, then turns superiorly to fan across the forehead and anterior scalp. Its superficial course places it deep to the frontalis belly of occipitofrontalis and within the subcutaneous tissues where it travels with the supraorbital artery and vein. Inferior to its emergence lie the orbicularis oculi and the orbital septum; medially, branches approach the glabella and nasal root, while lateral fibers supply the frontoparietal scalp. Neighboring sensory branches of the ophthalmic division of the trigeminal nerve (V1), including the supratrochlear nerve medially, provide useful regional context. Clinically, this anterior perspective matters because the supraorbital notch is a consistent landmark for supraorbital nerve block when treating forehead lacerations, brow surgery, and some headache syndromes. Entrapment or irritation at the notch or along the nerve’s superficial course can produce supraorbital neuralgia, with tenderness at the supraorbital rim and pain radiating to the vertex. Surgeons working through a brow or frontal hairline incision also watch this pathway to limit postoperative numbness or dysesthesia. Facial anatomy lectures on cranial nerve branches, trigeminal sensory mapping labs, and plastic surgery texts covering brow lift and blepharoplasty planning all benefit from a clear depiction of the supraorbital nerve in relation to frontalis, orbicularis oculi, and the supraorbital vessels. Emergency medicine and anesthesia teaching materials can pair the artwork with stepwise descriptions of the supraorbital notch palpation and local anesthetic infiltration line. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.