Glabella - Eye - Orbital cavity - e-Anatomy
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Glabella

Glabella

Definition

The glabella is a median bony elevation found between the two superciliary arches, connecting them. It’s located right above the nasion, which is where the internasal and frontonasal sutures meet. The skin covering the glabella is quite thick, with a lot of blood flow and is highly mobile. Due to these features, it’s often used to repair external nasal defects.

The glabellar tap reflex is a basic reflex where tapping the glabella causes a person to blink. This usually stops after 4 to 5 taps. However, this reflex is missing in people with Parkinson's disease, making it a diagnostic sign of this condition.

References

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Text written by Muhammad A. Javaid, MD, PhD © 2024 IMAIOS.

  • Walker HM, Chauhan PR. Anatomy, Head and Neck: Glabella. [Updated 2023 Jul 24]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK555993/

  • Singh O, Varacallo M. Anatomy, Head and Neck: Frontal Bone. [Updated 2023 Jul 24]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK535424/

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