Supraorbital foramen
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| Supraorbital foramen | |
|---|---|
| The skull from the front. ("Supraorbital foramen" is top caption on right side.) | |
| Frontal bone. Outer surface. ("Supraorbital notch or foramen" labeled at bottom right.) | |
| Gray's | subject #46 186 |
The supraorbital foramen (also known as the brow ridge or supraorbital ridge) is a bony elongated path located above the eye socket and under the forehead. It is also commonly known as a brow ridge. The supraorbital foramen lies directly under the eyebrow.
Contents |
[edit] Anthropology
In modern humans, the brow ridge is a slight protrusion above the eye socket. In Neanderthals and Homo erectus, the brow ridge is much more prominent than in modern Homo sapiens.
There have been several hypotheses for the function of the brow ridge. The brow ridge is present in many primates, including chimpanzees and gorillas. The supraorbital may serve to lessen stress on the lower forehead when chewing. Also, the brow ridge could also serve as protection from injury. [1]
[edit] Anatomy
The Supraorbital foramen arches transversely below the superciliary arches and is the upper part of the margin of the orbit, thin and prominent in its lateral two-thirds, rounded in its medial third, and presenting, at the junction of these two portions, the supraorbital notch or foramen for the supraorbital nerve and vessels.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- SUNY Figs 22:02-01 (from a distance)
- SUNY Labs 29:os-0504 (close up)
- Diagram/Upstate
- [2]
This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated. Please edit the article if this is the case, and feel free to remove this notice when it is no longer relevant.
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