Frontalis muscle - CT head and neck - Axial - e-Anatomy
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Frontalis muscle

Musculus frontalis

  • Latin synonym: Frontal belly of occipitofrontalis muscle; Venter frontalis musculi occipitofrontalis; Venter frontalis musculi epicranii
  • Synonym: Frontal belly of epicranius muscle
  • Related terms: Frontal belly; Occipitofrontalis: Frontal belly

Definition

Muhammad A. Javaid

The frontalis muscle is the anterior belly of the occipitofrontalis, a thin, quadrilateral muscle located in the superficial fascia of the forehead. It forms part of the scalp’s musculoaponeurotic complex (epicranius), along with the occipitalis muscle and the intervening epicranial aponeurosis (galea aponeurotica).

Origin

Arises from the anterior margin of the galea aponeurotica, near the level of the coronal suture.

Insertion

The frontalis muscle fibres have no bony attachment. They insert into the skin of the eyebrows and root of the nose. Here, they merge with the muscle fibres of the surrounding muscles, including the procerus muscle (medially) and the corrugator supercilii and orbicularis oculi muscle (in the middle and laterally).

Innervation

Supplied by the temporal branch of the facial nerve (cranial nerve VII).

Action

Elevates the eyebrows and wrinkles the forehead transversely.

References

  • Tajran J, Gosman AA. Anatomy, Head and Neck, Scalp. [Updated 2023 Jul 24]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551565/

  • Pessino K, Patel J, Patel BC. Anatomy, Head and Neck; Frontalis Muscle. [Updated 2023 Jul 25]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557752/

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