supraorbitario

Supraorbitario is a term used in anatomy to denote structures located above the orbit, or the region of the frontal bone surrounding the orbital margin. In common usage it refers to the supraorbital nerve and accompanying vessels that pass through the supraorbital foramen or notch at the superior orbital margin.

The supraorbital nerve is a sensory branch of the ophthalmic division (V1) of the trigeminal nerve. It exits the skull through the supraorbital foramen or notch and divides into frontal and scalp branches that supply the forehead, scalp, and the upper eyelid. The accompanying supraorbital artery and vein arise from the ophthalmic artery and drain into the facial and angular systems.

Anatomical variation is common: the supraorbital foramen can be a foramen or a notch, and its location can vary along the midline of the superior orbital margin. The nerve typically emerges in the eyebrow region, with distribution extending to the mid-forehead and anterior scalp.

Clinical significance: knowledge of the supraorbitario region is important for regional anesthesia, as a supraorbital nerve block provides anesthesia to the forehead and anterior scalp. It is also relevant in evaluating frontal headaches, trigeminal neuralgia, and orbital or frontal bone fractures, where the nerve or vessels may be injured.

Etymology: from Latin supra- “above” and orbitalium “orbit,” used in Spanish to denote structures above the orbit.