Supraorbital ridge

Supraorbital ridge or supraorbital margin is a bony feature of the human skull. It refers to the ridge above the eye socket, indicating the location of the frontal bone of the skull.

Anatomy

The supraorbital ridge is a prominent, curved structure that forms the upper boundary of the eye socket. It is part of the frontal bone, which also forms the forehead. The ridge provides protection for the eye and also serves as an attachment point for several muscles that control eye movement and facial expressions.

The supraorbital ridge is more pronounced in males than in females, a characteristic known as sexual dimorphism. This is thought to be due to the influence of sex hormones during development.

Clinical significance

The supraorbital ridge can be used as a landmark in medical imaging to locate other structures in the skull. It is also a common site of injury in facial trauma, and can be involved in conditions such as orbital fractures.

In plastic surgery, modifications to the supraorbital ridge can be performed to change the appearance of the forehead. This is often done in facial feminization surgery, where the ridge is reduced to give a more typically female appearance.

See also

• Brow ridge
• Human skull
• Frontal bone
• Orbital fracture