Reproduction is permitted, whole or in part, only by the express
permission of the authors
Text, Layout, and Graphics Copyright © 1995 by Turhon Murad
Design, and Graphics Copyright © 1995 by Nanci Ellis
Project was sponsored, in part, by Technology and Learning Program, CSU, Chico
The frontal bone may be divided into two main portions, a vertical
squamous portion which articulates with the paired parietals along the
Coronal Suture and forms the forehead, and two orbital plates,
which contribute to the ceiling and lateral walls of the left and right
eye orbits. On the external surface the squamous portion frequently
possesses a left and right Frontal Eminence. Additionally, the
bone possesses two Supra-Orbital Ridges (i.e., Superciliary or
Brow Ridges) which are bumps above each of the eye orbits. In early
hominids these ridges formed a Torus or large shelf-like process
protruding from above the eyes. Associated with each Superior Orbital
Margin of the eye orbit the frontal bone may posses a
Supra-Orbital Notch or if completely surrounded by bone, a
Supra-Orbital Foramen. Above the fronto-nasal suture which allows articulation between the frontal and nasal bones there is generally a trace of the vertical Metopic Suture. In early life the metopic suture divided the frontal bone into left and right halfs. With in the bone, and above and the metopic suture, is the Frontal Sinus. The left and right Frontal Crest, begins at each
Zygomatic Process of the frontal bone, and provides the anterior origin
of the Temporal Line to which the left and right temporal muscle is attached.
Internally, the frontal bone possesses the Median Sagittal (i.e.,
Sagittal-Frontal) Crest which separates the two frontal
hemispheres of the brain.
The frontal touches, or articulates with, the following bones:
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