Eyebrow

The eyebrow is an area of thick, delicate hairs above the eye that follows the shape of the lower margin of the brow ridges of some mammals. Their main function is to prevent sweat, water, and other debris from falling down into the eye socket, but they are also important to human communication and facial expression.

Anatomy

The eyebrow is an area on the human body located above the eye. It is composed of three parts: the head or front, the body or middle, and the tail or end. The head is near the center of the face, the tail is towards the side of the face, and the body is the area in between.

Function

The main function of the eyebrows is to prevent sweat, primarily salty water, from flowing into the eye. The typical curved shape of the eyebrow (with a slant on the side) and the direction in which eyebrow hairs are pointed, make sure that moisture has a tendency to flow sideways around the eyes, along the side of the head and along the nose. Eyebrows also prevent debris such as dandruff and other small objects from falling into the eyes, as well as providing a more sensitive sense for detecting objects being near the eye, like small insects.

Cultural significance

Eyebrows have a significant role in communication, particularly in demonstrating surprise, happiness or anger. They are also often modified by humans for aesthetic, fashion, or other reasons. In many cultures, it is common for women to modify their eyebrows by means of hair addition, removal and makeup.

See also

• Eye
• Facial hair
• Hair
• Human body