Os frontale

Os Frontale

The Os Frontale or Frontal Bone is a bone in the human skull. The bone consists of two portions. These are the vertical portion, also known as the Squamous part, and the horizontal portion, known as the Orbital part.

Anatomy

The Os Frontale forms the main portion of the forehead, the roof of the orbits, and the floor of the anterior cranial fossa. It is one of the eight bones that form the cranium, which is the superior part of the skull that protects the brain.

Squamous Part

The Squamous part of the Os Frontale is the largest part and presents a convex external surface, which is responsible for the smooth contour of the forehead.

Orbital Part

The Orbital part of the Os Frontale is the horizontal portion that forms the roofs of the orbits and the floor of the anterior cranial fossa.

Development

The Os Frontale begins to develop during the second month of embryonic development. It initially exists as two separate halves, which fuse together during the second year of life to form a single bone.

Clinical Significance

Conditions that can affect the Os Frontale include Frontal sinusitis, which is an inflammation of the frontal sinuses located within the bone, and Frontal lobe syndrome, which can occur if there is damage to the frontal bone that impacts the underlying frontal lobe of the brain.

See Also

• Human skull
• Cranium
• Frontal lobe
• Frontal sinus