The forehead is the part of the face of the human body. It is also known as frons or brow. It is important for communication. This helps us to express our basic emotions. Muscles in the brow control the movement of the eyebrows which helps us to express concern and anger among other feelings.
Definition
It is the part of the face above the eyes and below the hair or it is an area of the head bounded by three features which are two of the skull and one of the scalps.
Structure of the Forehead
The forehead is a squamous part of the frontal bone. The overlapping muscles are the Occipitofrontalis, Corrugator Supercilii, and Procerus. They are controlled by the facial nerve. Sensory nerves attach to the trigeminal nerve.
It lies in the subcutaneous fat. The motor nerves of the forehead join with the facial nerve. The ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal nerve and the supraorbital nerve divides at the orbital edge into two parts in the forehead.
The superficial separation runs the surface of the occipitofrontalis muscle. This gives sensation to the skin of the forehead and the front edge of the scalp. The deep separation runs into the occipitofrontalis muscle and provides frontoparietal sensation.
Functions of the Forehead
Expression
The muscles of the brow help us to form facial expressions. Four essential motions can happen individually or in combination to form various expressions.
Occipitofrontalis muscles can lift the eyebrows either together or alone forming expressions of surprise and suspiciously. Corrugator supercilii muscles can drag the eyebrows inwards and downward forming a frown. Procerus muscles can pull down the central portions of the eyebrows.
Wrinkles
The muscles in the brow create distinctive wrinkles in the skin. Occipitofrontalis muscles produce sloping wrinkles across the breadth. Corrugator supercilii muscles produce vertical wrinkles among the eyebrows over the nose. The wrinkles on the surface of the nose are due to the Procerus muscles.
Similar Words
- Brow
- Temple
- Frons
Synonyms of Forehead
- Front
- Façade
- Face
- Surface
- Forepart
- Skin
- Outside
- Veneer
Antonyms of Forehead
- Back
- Reverse
- Rear
- Interior
- Rearward
- Inside
- Innards
Etymology of Forehead
The word forehead originated from the Old English roots fore, the fore part, and head, the top of the body or head. It is derived from the frontal region of the frontonasal process.
Pronunciation of Forehead
Pronunciation of the forehead sounds like faw. hed
Forehead meaning in Hindi
माथा (Maatha)
Forehead Kisses
It is a social kissing sign to specify friendship or to denote comforting somebody. In Arabic cultures, a kiss is a sign of excuse as well as a sign of recognition of complaint on the part of the person. In the countries of Saudi Arabia, Iran, Jordan, Egypt, and Syria, it is a sign of respect to elders. It permits emotions and passion to be passed from one another.
Society & Culture
In physiognomy or face reading and phrenology, the shape of the brow was taken to symbolize understanding and intelligence. In 1942 Samuel R. Wells wrote that even the animals the most intelligent of them can hardly be said to have any brow at all and in natural total idiots, it is much less.
In Physiognomica, Pseudo-Aristotle said that the forehead is governed by Mars. A short and little brow denoted nobility, courage, and self-confidence. A fleshy and wrinkle-free forehead denoted litigiousness, narcissism, dishonesty, and contentiousness. A sharp brow denoted weakness and indecisiveness.
Same like, a wrinkled temple denoted huge spirit and wit yet poor luck; a round brow denoted good quality and good understanding, and a full large brow denoted bravery, hatred, and boundary issues while a long high brow denoted sincerity, weakness, straightforwardness, and poor luck.
Examples
- She has a cut on her forehead.
- He wiped her forehead with love.
- This will cause pain around your eyes and brow.
- He had white powder over his brow.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Mention the main function of the brow.
This helps us to express our emotions.
Mention the medical name of the brow.
Its medical name is Sinciput.
How much is the average size of it?
For the males, it is nearly about 2.4 inches or 6.1 cm
For the females, it is about 2.3 inches or 5.8 cm.
Which type of temple is beautiful?
A smooth forehead without any wrinkles is a beautiful brow.
What are the layers of the brow?
- Skin layer
- Superficial fatty layer
- Suprafrontalis fascia layer
- Orbicularis oculi and frontalis muscle layer
- A homogenous layer of fat