Muscles of the cranial vault

Under the scalp, between the frontal and occipital bones, there is a broad tendon plate - the tendon helmet (supracranial aponeurosis), galea aponeurotica (aponeurosis epicranialis), which is tightly adhered to the skin of the scalp and loose - with the periosteum of the skull bones.

In the front sections of the helmet, there is a frontal abdomen, and in the posterior part - the occipital abdomen, forming the occipital-frontal muscle, m. Occipitofrontalis.

The frontal abdomen, venter frontalis, is located under the skin of the forehead area. This muscle consists of vertically extending beams that, starting slightly above the frontal tubercles, from the tendon helmet, are directed downwards and weave into the skin of the forehead at the level of the brow ridges.

The occipital abdomen, venter occipitalis, is formed by comparatively short muscular tufts that begin in the lineae nuchae supremae region, rise upward and are weaved into the posterior parts of the tendon helmet.

The tendon helmet and the associated muscle parts are called the supracranial muscle, m. Epicranius.

Function: when the occipital abdomen is contracted, the tendon helmet, and with it the skin of the scalp, is displaced posteriorly: the contraction of the frontal abdomen displaces the tendon helmet and the associated part of the scalp anteriorly; With a strengthened helmet, the muscle raises its eyebrows and expands the eye gap.

Blood supply: frontal abdomen - aa. Temporalis superficialis, supraorbitalis, lacrimalis, occipital abdomen - aa. Occipitalis, auricularis posterior.