The Superciliary Arch is a prominent bony ridge above the eye socket in humans and other mammals. The spelling of this word can be broken down using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) as su-pər-sɪl-i-er-i aːʧ. The first syllable, "su," is pronounced as in the word "super," while the next syllable "per" is pronounced as in the word "perfect." The third syllable, "sil," is pronounced with a short "i" sound, like in "sill." The last two syllables, "er-i," are pronounced with a long "e" and a short "i," respectively. The final syllable, "aːʧ," is pronounced like the English word "arch."
Superciliary Arch refers to the bony ridge or prominence that is found above the eye socket or orbit, specifically at the level of the eyebrow. It is also known as the supraorbital ridge or eyebrow ridge. This arch serves as a natural anatomical feature found in humans, giving shape and support to the eyebrows and forehead.
The superciliary arch is formed by the thickening and projection of the frontal bone, which is located at the uppermost part of the skull. It runs horizontally across the forehead, extending laterally from the inner corner of one eye to the inner corner of the other eye. This arch gives a distinct contour to the face and contributes to the overall aesthetics of the individual.
Functionally, the superciliary arch acts as a protective barrier for the eye socket, shielding the eyes from direct trauma. It also serves as an attachment point for the frontalis muscle, a muscle responsible for raising the eyebrows and wrinkling the forehead. Additionally, the superciliary arch plays a role in facial expressions, conveying emotions such as surprise, worry, or anger.
The superciliary arch is a distinguishing feature of the human skull and varies in prominence among individuals. It can be more pronounced in some people, leading to a more prominent brow line, while in others, it may be less prominent and result in a flatter forehead.
Arcus superciliaris.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "superciliary" is derived from the Latin word "supercilium", which means "eyebrow". The term "arch" comes from the Latin word "arcus", meaning "bow" or "arch". Therefore, "superciliary arch" is a combination of these terms and refers to the bony ridge located above the eye sockets, commonly known as the eyebrow arch or brow ridge.