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The muscles of the cranial vault
Last reviewed: 07.07.2025
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The cranial vault is covered by a single muscular-anoneurotic formation - the epicranial muscle (m.epicranius), in which the following parts are distinguished:
- occipitofrontalis muscle;
- tendon helmet (supracranial aponeurosis);
- temporoparietal muscle.
The occipitofrontalis muscle (m.occipitofrontalis) covers the vault from the eyebrows in front to the highest nuchal line in the back. This muscle has a frontal belly (venter frontalis) and an occipital belly (venter occipitalis), connected to each other by a wide tendon-aponeurosis, called the tendon helmet (galea aponeurotica, s. aponeurosis epicranialis), which occupies an intermediate position and covers the parietal region of the head.
The occipital belly is divided into symmetrical parts by a well-defined fibrous plate occupying a median position. This belly begins with tendinous bundles on the highest nuchal line and at the base of the mastoid process of the temporal bone, goes upward and passes into the tendinous helmet.
The frontal belly is more developed, it is also divided by a fibrous plate running along the midline into two quadrangular parts, which are located on the sides of the midline of the forehead. Unlike the posterior belly, the muscle bundles of the frontal belly are not attached to the bones of the skull, but are woven into the skin of the eyebrows. The frontal belly at the level of the border of the hairy part of the scalp (anterior to the coronal suture) also passes into the tendinous helmet.
The tendon helmet is a flat fibrous plate that occupies most of the cranial vault. The tendon helmet is connected to the scalp by vertically oriented connective tissue bundles. Between the tendon helmet and the underlying periosteum of the cranial vault is a layer of loose fibrous connective tissue. Therefore, when the occipitofrontalis muscle contracts, the scalp, together with the tendon helmet, moves freely over the cranial vault.
The temporoparietal muscle (m.temporoparietalis) is located on the lateral surface of the skull and is poorly developed. Its bundles begin in front on the inner side of the cartilage of the auricle and, fanning out, are attached to the lateral part of the tendinous helmet. This muscle in humans is the remnants of the ear muscles of mammals. The action of this muscle is not expressed.
Function: the occipital belly of the occipitofrontalis muscle pulls the scalp back, creates support for the frontal belly. When the frontal belly of this muscle contracts, the skin of the forehead is pulled upward, transverse folds are formed on the forehead, the eyebrows are raised. The frontal belly of the occipitofrontalis muscle is also an antagonist of the muscles that narrow the palpebral fissure. This belly pulls the skin of the forehead and along with it the skin of the eyebrows upward, which simultaneously gives the face an expression of surprise.
Innervation: facial nerve (VII).
Blood supply: occipital, posterior auricular, superficial temporal and supraorbital arteries.
The muscle of the procerus (m.procerus) begins on the outer surface of the nasal bone, its bundles pass upward and end in the skin of the forehead; some of them intertwine with the bundles of the frontal belly.
Function: when the procerus muscle contracts, transverse grooves and folds are formed at the root of the nose. By pulling the skin downwards, the procerus muscle, as an antagonist of the frontal belly of the occipitofrontal muscle, helps to straighten the transverse folds on the forehead.
Innervation: facial nerve (VII).
Blood supply: angular, anterior ethmoidal arteries.
The corrugator supercilii muscle originates on the medial segment of the superciliary arch, passes upward and laterally, and is attached to the skin of the corresponding eyebrow. Some of the bundles of this muscle intertwine with the bundles of the orbicularis oculi muscle.
Function: Pulls the skin of the forehead downward and medially, resulting in two vertical folds forming above the root of the nose.
Innervation: facial nerve (VII).
Blood supply: angular, supraorbital, superficial temporal arteries.
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