Quick Facts
Origin: Ophthalmic nerve.
Course: Runs from the superior orbital fissure along the superior surface of the levator palpebrae superioris muscle.
Branches: Supraorbital and supratrochlear nerves.
Supply: Conveys general sensation from the forehead, glabella, frontal sinus, skin of the upper eyelid, and conjunctiva.
Related parts of the anatomy
Origin
The frontal nerve is a branch of the ophthalmic nerve that originates just proximal to or within the superior orbital fissure.
Course
The frontal nerve runs through the superior orbital fissure, traveling in the orbit deep to the periosteum along the superficial surface of the levator palpebrae superioris muscle. Midway through the orbit, it bifurcates.
Branches
The frontal nerve bifurcates to form the supratrochlear and supraorbital nerves.
The supraorbital nerve is the more direct continuation of the frontal nerve, traveling forward to the supraorbital foramen to exit the orbit. It runs superiorly onto the forehead.
The supratrochlear nerve runs slightly more medially towards the trochlea of the superior oblique, exiting the orbit and ascending the forehead roughly parallel and medial to the supraorbital nerve.
Supplied Structures
The frontal nerve is a sensory nerve that conveys general sensation from the skin of the forehead and bridge of the nose, frontal sinus, skin of the upper eyelid, and conjunctiva of the upper eyelid and globe.
The supraorbital nerve innervates the upper eyelid and conjunctiva, frontal sinus, and much of the skin of the forehead.
The supratrochlear nerve innervates the upper medial eyelid and conjunctiva, the glabella, and the more medial skin of the forehead.
