The frontal bone is the bone in your forehead. It is one of eight bones in the skull. The frontal bone’s function is to support the front and back of the skull and protect the brain, eyes, and nasal passages.
Frontal Bone Anatomy
The structure of the frontal bone consists of three parts:squamous, orbital, and nasal.
Prakasit Khuasuwan / EyeEm / Getty Images
Location
The frontal bone is located in front of the skull, above the nasal bones and in front of theparietalbones, which form the sides of the skull.
Anatomical Variations
Infants have a space between the frontal and parietal bones called afontanelle.
Delayed cases of a fontanel closure may be a sign of:
Alternatively, intracranial pressure could be a result of a fontanelle closing too soon.
Some depression or swelling of a fontanelle in an infant is completely normal and can flag possible health risks, as the fontanelle will appear sunken if an infant is dehydrated.
Frontal Bone Function
The frontal bone is one of the eight bones that together form the cranium, otherwise known as the protective case of the brain.
The primary functions of the frontal bone are to protect the brain and support the structures of the head, such as the nasal passages, frontal sinuses, and eyes.
There is cerebrospinal fluid between the brain and frontal bone.This fluid is in between the meninges, which surround the brain. These padded layers and cerebrospinal fluid keep the brain safe, and prevent it from hitting against the skull.
While many nerves pass through the frontal bone to provide motor and sensory function to the different regions of the head, the frontal bone itself doesn’t provide and motor or sensory function. However, the center of the frontal bone has a sponge-like consistency and is filled with stem cells that go on to formred blood cells,white blood cells, andplateletsthat are distributed into the bloodstream.
What is the frontal process bone?The frontal process and the frontal bone are not the same thing. The term “frontal process” can be used to describe the long, thin part of the maxillary bone that helps form the sides of the nose and nasal cavity.It can also be used to describe the upper part of the zygomatic bone located next to the eye.
What is the frontal process bone?
The frontal process and the frontal bone are not the same thing. The term “frontal process” can be used to describe the long, thin part of the maxillary bone that helps form the sides of the nose and nasal cavity.It can also be used to describe the upper part of the zygomatic bone located next to the eye.
Associated Conditions
Diseases of the frontal bone includehyperostosis frontalis internaandcraniosynostosis.
Hyperostosis Frontalis Internal
Hyperostosis frontalis internal occurs when a portion of the frontal bone is thicker than normal. It is associated with seizures, headaches, obesity, diabetes insipidus, excessive hair growth, and sex gland disturbances. It is present in 5% 12% of the general population.
Hyperostosis frontalis interna has no known treatment. Instead, healthcare providers have to treat the symptoms, such as headaches and seizures, which can be done with medication.
Craniosynostosis
Craniosynostosis happens in infants when any sutures close early. This results in an abnormally shaped skull because the bones are restricted and can’t expand with the brain’s growth. If left untreated, craniosynostosis can lead to permanent head deformities, seizures, developmental delays, and increased brain pressure.
Craniosynostosis treatment typically requires surgery, where a surgical team will release the fused frontal bone and reshape the areas that have been deformed from the closure.This is done as early as possible for the infant (typically around 8 months of age) because an infant’s bones are extremely malleable, and bone growth happens more quickly to accommodate brain growth.
Fracture
A fracture of the frontal bone may cause the following symptoms:
Depending on severity, this type of fracture may require surgery.
What happens if the frontal bone is damaged?Because the frontal bone is close to important structures such as the eyes and brain, a fracture can cause significant long-term complications such as chronic headache, meningitis, or brain abscess.
What happens if the frontal bone is damaged?
Because the frontal bone is close to important structures such as the eyes and brain, a fracture can cause significant long-term complications such as chronic headache, meningitis, or brain abscess.
Summary
The frontal bone is the bone located in your forehead. It helps protect your brain and support important structures in your face such as the eyes and nasal passages.
Conditions that affect the frontal bone include hyperostosis frontalis internal, a thickening of the frontal bone that is associated with problems like seizures and headaches, and craniosynostosis, which affects infants.
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Meyyappan A, Jagdish E, Jeevitha JY.Bone cements in depressed frontal bone fractures.Ann Maxillofac Surg. 2019;9(2):407-410. doi:10.4103/ams.ams_155_1Tang M, Xiong F, Li P, Zeng L, Yang S.A retrospective cross-sectional study of delayed closure of anterior fontanelle in healthy infants and its associated factors. doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-41012/v2Jeyaraj P.Frontal bone fractures and frontal sinus injuries: Treatment paradigms.Ann Maxillofac Surg. 2019;9(2):261-282. doi:10.4103/ams.ams_151_19Elsevier.Frontal process of maxilla.Elsevier.Frontal process of the zygomatic bone.Western AG, Bekvalac JJ.Hyperostosis frontalis interna in female historic skeletal populations: Age, sex hormones and the impact of industrialization.Am J Phys Anthropol. 2017;162(3):501-515. doi:10.1002/ajpa.23133Taylor JA, Bartlett SP.What’s new in syndromic craniosynostosis surgery?Plast Reconstr Surg. 2017;140(1):82e-93e. doi:10.1097/PRS.0000000000003524Mount Sinai.Skull fracture.Additional ReadingAmerican Association of Neurological Surgeons.Craniosynostosis and Craniofacial Disorders. (n.d.)Anatomy Next.Frontal bone. (n.d.)Kenhub.Frontal Bone. (n.d.)Singh O. Varacallo M.Anatomy, Head and Neck, Frontal Bone. Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls Publishing; 2018.
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Meyyappan A, Jagdish E, Jeevitha JY.Bone cements in depressed frontal bone fractures.Ann Maxillofac Surg. 2019;9(2):407-410. doi:10.4103/ams.ams_155_1Tang M, Xiong F, Li P, Zeng L, Yang S.A retrospective cross-sectional study of delayed closure of anterior fontanelle in healthy infants and its associated factors. doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-41012/v2Jeyaraj P.Frontal bone fractures and frontal sinus injuries: Treatment paradigms.Ann Maxillofac Surg. 2019;9(2):261-282. doi:10.4103/ams.ams_151_19Elsevier.Frontal process of maxilla.Elsevier.Frontal process of the zygomatic bone.Western AG, Bekvalac JJ.Hyperostosis frontalis interna in female historic skeletal populations: Age, sex hormones and the impact of industrialization.Am J Phys Anthropol. 2017;162(3):501-515. doi:10.1002/ajpa.23133Taylor JA, Bartlett SP.What’s new in syndromic craniosynostosis surgery?Plast Reconstr Surg. 2017;140(1):82e-93e. doi:10.1097/PRS.0000000000003524Mount Sinai.Skull fracture.Additional ReadingAmerican Association of Neurological Surgeons.Craniosynostosis and Craniofacial Disorders. (n.d.)Anatomy Next.Frontal bone. (n.d.)Kenhub.Frontal Bone. (n.d.)Singh O. Varacallo M.Anatomy, Head and Neck, Frontal Bone. Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls Publishing; 2018.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Meyyappan A, Jagdish E, Jeevitha JY.Bone cements in depressed frontal bone fractures.Ann Maxillofac Surg. 2019;9(2):407-410. doi:10.4103/ams.ams_155_1Tang M, Xiong F, Li P, Zeng L, Yang S.A retrospective cross-sectional study of delayed closure of anterior fontanelle in healthy infants and its associated factors. doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-41012/v2Jeyaraj P.Frontal bone fractures and frontal sinus injuries: Treatment paradigms.Ann Maxillofac Surg. 2019;9(2):261-282. doi:10.4103/ams.ams_151_19Elsevier.Frontal process of maxilla.Elsevier.Frontal process of the zygomatic bone.Western AG, Bekvalac JJ.Hyperostosis frontalis interna in female historic skeletal populations: Age, sex hormones and the impact of industrialization.Am J Phys Anthropol. 2017;162(3):501-515. doi:10.1002/ajpa.23133Taylor JA, Bartlett SP.What’s new in syndromic craniosynostosis surgery?Plast Reconstr Surg. 2017;140(1):82e-93e. doi:10.1097/PRS.0000000000003524Mount Sinai.Skull fracture.
Meyyappan A, Jagdish E, Jeevitha JY.Bone cements in depressed frontal bone fractures.Ann Maxillofac Surg. 2019;9(2):407-410. doi:10.4103/ams.ams_155_1
Tang M, Xiong F, Li P, Zeng L, Yang S.A retrospective cross-sectional study of delayed closure of anterior fontanelle in healthy infants and its associated factors. doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-41012/v2
Jeyaraj P.Frontal bone fractures and frontal sinus injuries: Treatment paradigms.Ann Maxillofac Surg. 2019;9(2):261-282. doi:10.4103/ams.ams_151_19
Elsevier.Frontal process of maxilla.
Elsevier.Frontal process of the zygomatic bone.
Western AG, Bekvalac JJ.Hyperostosis frontalis interna in female historic skeletal populations: Age, sex hormones and the impact of industrialization.Am J Phys Anthropol. 2017;162(3):501-515. doi:10.1002/ajpa.23133
Taylor JA, Bartlett SP.What’s new in syndromic craniosynostosis surgery?Plast Reconstr Surg. 2017;140(1):82e-93e. doi:10.1097/PRS.0000000000003524
Mount Sinai.Skull fracture.
American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Craniosynostosis and Craniofacial Disorders. (n.d.)Anatomy Next.Frontal bone. (n.d.)Kenhub.Frontal Bone. (n.d.)Singh O. Varacallo M.Anatomy, Head and Neck, Frontal Bone. Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls Publishing; 2018.
American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Craniosynostosis and Craniofacial Disorders. (n.d.)
Anatomy Next.Frontal bone. (n.d.)
Kenhub.Frontal Bone. (n.d.)
Singh O. Varacallo M.Anatomy, Head and Neck, Frontal Bone. Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls Publishing; 2018.
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