Musculus occipitofrontalis is a complex muscle that covers the skull. The spelling of this word is challenging because it is derived from Latin and contains a combination of vowels, consonants, and digraphs. The IPA phonetic transcription of this word would be /mʌskjələs ɒksɪpɪtəʊfrʌntælɪs/. The first syllable "mus" is pronounced as "mʌs", followed by "cu" pronounced as "kjə", and "lus" pronounced as "ləs". "Occipitofrontalis" is divided into three parts: "occi" pronounced as "ɒksɪ", "pito" pronounced as "pɪtəʊ", and "frontalis" pronounced as "frʌntælɪs".
The musculus occipitofrontalis, commonly known as the occipitofrontalis muscle, is a prominent muscle in the human body that is situated in the face and scalp region. It is a paired muscle consisting of two sections, the frontal belly and the occipital belly, which are connected by a broad tendon called the galea aponeurotica.
The frontal belly extends from the eyebrows and covers the forehead region, while the occipital belly is situated at the posterior region of the skull. These two bellies work in tandem to help produce various facial expressions and movements involving the forehead, such as raising the eyebrows, wrinkling the forehead, and frowning. Additionally, the muscles can also assist in scalp movement, aiding in the retraction and wrinkling of the scalp.
In terms of innervation, the occipitofrontalis muscle receives its nerve supply from the facial nerve (cranial nerve VII). This nerve allows for the voluntary control and coordination of movements associated with the occipitofrontalis muscle.
Overall, the musculus occipitofrontalis plays a crucial role in facial expression and movement by allowing us to communicate emotions and engage in different types of facial gestures.
M. Epicranius.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The term "musculus occipitofrontalis" is derived from Latin.
- "Musculus" is the Latin word for "muscle".
- "Occipito" is derived from "occiput", which refers to the back part of the skull.
- "Frontalis" is derived from "frontal", which pertains to the forehead.
Therefore, "musculus occipitofrontalis" can be translated as the muscle that spans from the occiput (back of the skull) to the frontal region (forehead). This muscle is commonly known as the frontalis muscle, which is responsible for raising the eyebrows and wrinkling the forehead.