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Frontal bone

The frontal bone is one of the thickest bones of the skull. At birth, it is usually paired – right and left – but before the first year of life, the suture separating them (sutura frontalis s. metopica) usually ossifies1. The occurrence of persistent metopic suture in adult age varies in different countries from nearly 0% to 15%, and it should not be confused with the frontal bone fracture2.

  • 1 Vu H, et al. The timing of physiologic closure of the metopic suture: a review of 159 patients using reconstructed 3D CT scans of the craniofacial region. Journal of Craniofacial Surgery, 2001, 12(6):527-532.
  • 2 Zdilla M, et al. Metopism: a study of the persistent metopic suture. Journal of Craniofacial Surgery, 2018, 29(1):204-208.
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    Icon of crossfade image Frontal bone ex situ
    Frontal bone ex situ Frontal bone in situ
    Frontal bone in situ & ex situ.
    Please note the variable pattern of sutures along the perimeter of that bone, from the serrated (between the frontal and parietal bone) to squamous (between the frontal and the lesser wing of sphenoid).
    Icon of crossfade image Front view of frontal bone with the terminology markup
    Front view of frontal bone
    Anterior aspect of frontal bone.
    Note the specific shape of the nasal part designed to simultaneously articulate with ethmoid, sphenoid, nasal and lacrimal bones.
    The list of terms: Squama frontalis – Squama of frontal bone
    Tuber frontale – Frontal tuber
    Sutura metopica – Frontal, or metopic suture
    Processus zygomaticus – Zygomatic process
    Linea temporalis – Temporal line of frontal bone
    Arcus superciliaris – Superciliary arch
    Margo supraorbitalis – Supraorbital border
    Incisura / foramen supraorbitale – Supraorbital notch or foramen
    Incisura / foramen frontale – Frontal notch or foramen
    Pars nasalis – Nasal part of frontal bone
    Spina nasalis – Nasal spine
    Margo nasalis – Nasal border
    Icon of crossfade image Dorsal view of the frontal bone with the latin terminology markup
    Dorsal view of the frontal bone
    Dorsal aspect of the frontal bone.
    The list of terms: Sulcus sinus sagittalis superioris – Groove for superior sagittal sinus
    Crista frontalis – Frontal crest
    Foramen caecum – Foramen cecum
    Impressiones digitatae – Digitate impressions
    Juga cerebralia – Cerebral ridges of cranium
    Sulci arteriae meningeae mediae – Groove for middle meningeal artery
    Icon of crossfade image Bottom view of the frontal bone with the terminology markup
    Bottom view of the frontal bone
    The bottom aspect of the frontal bone demonstrating an opening of the frontal sinus (apertura sinus frontalis).
    The list of terms: Pars nasalis – Nasal part
    Spina nasalis – Nasal spine
    Margo nasalis – Nasal border
    Apertura sinus frontalis – Opening of frontal sinus
    Incisura frontalis – Frontal notch
    Foramen supraorbitale – Supraorbital foramen
    Incisura supraorbitalis – Supraorbital notch
    Incisura ethmoidalis – Ethmoid notch
    Pars orbitalis – Orbital part
    Fossa glandulae lacrimalis – Fossa for lacrimal gland
    Foramen ethmoidale anterius – Anterior ethmoid foramen
    Icon of crossfade image Posterior iso view of the frontal bone with the terminology markup
    Posterior iso view of the frontal bone
    The postero-lateral aspect of the frontal bone.
    The list of terms: Squama frontalis – Squama of frontal bone
    Margo parietalis – Parietal border
    Linea temporalis – Temporal line of frontal bone
    Facies temporalis – Temporal surface
    Processus zygomaticus ossis frontalis – Zygomatic process of frontal bone
    Pars orbitalis – Orbital part
    Incisura ethmoidalis – Ethmoid notch
    Frontal bone ex situ & in situ. 360° rotation.
    First published: May/2019
    Last update: 09/Nov/2020