Frontalis muscle

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title: "Frontalis muscle" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["muscles-of-the-head-and-neck", "facial-muscles", "human-head-and-neck"] description: "Muscle covering parts of the skull" topic_path: "general/muscles-of-the-head-and-neck" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frontalis_muscle" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Muscle covering parts of the skull ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox muscle"]

Field	Value
Name	Frontalis
Latin	venter frontalis musculi occipitofrontalis
Image	Musculus frontalis.png
Caption	Visible at top left colored in red
Origin	Galea aponeurotica (epicranial aponeurotis)
Insertion	Orbicularis oculi muscle
Blood	Supraorbital and supratrochlear arteries
Nerve	Facial nerve
Temporal branch
Action	Raises eyebrows and wrinkles forehead
::

| Name = Frontalis | Latin = venter frontalis musculi occipitofrontalis | Image = Musculus frontalis.png | Caption = Visible at top left colored in red | Origin = Galea aponeurotica (epicranial aponeurotis) | Insertion = Orbicularis oculi muscle | Blood = Supraorbital and supratrochlear arteries | Nerve = Facial nerve Temporal branch | Action = Raises eyebrows and wrinkles forehead The frontalis muscle () is a muscle which covers parts of the forehead of the skull. Some sources consider the frontalis muscle to be a distinct muscle. However, Terminologia Anatomica currently classifies it as part of the occipitofrontalis muscle along with the occipitalis muscle.

In humans, the frontalis muscle only serves for facial expressions.{{cite book | title = Anatomy & Physiology: The Unity of Form and Function | first = Kenneth S. | last = Saladin | publisher = McGraw-Hill | year = 2003 | pages = 286–287 | edition = 3rd

The frontalis muscle is supplied by the facial nerve and receives blood from the supraorbital and supratrochlear arteries.

Structure

The frontalis muscle is thin, of a quadrilateral form, and intimately adherent to the superficial fascia. It is broader than the occipitalis and its fibers are longer and paler in color. It is located on the front of the head.

The muscle has no bony attachments. Its medial fibers are continuous with those of the procerus; its intermediate fibers blend with the corrugator and orbicularis oculi muscles, thus attached to the skin of the eyebrows; and its lateral fibers are also blended with the latter muscle over the zygomatic process of the frontal bone.

From these attachments the fibers are directed upward, and join the galea aponeurotica below the coronal suture.

The medial margins of the frontalis muscles are joined together for some distance above the root of the nose; but between the occipitales there is a considerable, though variable, interval, occupied by the galea aponeurotica.

Function

In humans, the frontalis muscle only serves for facial expressions.

In the eyebrows, its primary function is to lift them (thus opposing the orbital portion of the orbicularis), especially when looking up. It also acts when a view is too distant or dim. The frontalis muscle also serves to wrinkle the forehead.

Additional images

File:Frontalis muscle animation small.gif|Position of frontalis muscle (shown in red)

References

References

1. "Insertion of frontalis muscle relating to blepharoptosis repair". Hwang K, Kim DJ, Hwang SH. J Craniofac Surg. 2005 Nov;16(6):965-7.
2. {{Terminologia Anatomica. A04.1.03.003
3. Drake, Richard L.. (2010). "Gray's Anatomy for Students".
4. "eye, human."Encyclopædia Britannica. 2008. [[Encyclopædia Britannica 2006 Ultimate Reference Suite DVD]] 2009

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